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COUNTY BOROUGH OF DONCASTER

Aj:,N UAL

REPORT

MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
FOR THE YEAR

^951

H. L. SETTLE, M.Sc., M.D., Ch.B., D.P.H., F.R.San.1.

MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH

COUNTY BOROUGH OF DONCASTER

ANNUAL

OR!

of the

MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH

FOR THE YEAR

^957

H. L. SETTLE, M.Sc., M.D., Ch.B., D.P.H., F.R.San.L
MEDICAL OFEICER OF HEALTH

INDEX

HEALTH COMMITTEE

Page

‘sTAFE

••• ••• ••• ••• ••• •••

INTRODUCTION

SECTION A— STATISTICS AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS:
General Statistics ...

Vital Statistics

SECTION B— HEALTH SERVICES OF THE AREA :
Hospital and Specialist Services ...

Nursing Homes ...

Local Authority Services

Clinic and Welfare Centres

Maternity and Child Welfare

Welfare Foods

Dental Services
Medical Examinations

Midwifery

Health Visiting

Home Nursing

Domestic Help

Convalescent Home Treatment ...

Vaccination and Immunisation ...

Ambulance Service

Epilepsy and Cerebral Palsy
Welfare of the Blind

National Assistance Act, 1948

Nurseries and Child-Minders Regulation Act, 1948 ...
Health Education ...

Mental Health

SECTION C

Infectious and other Diseases

Mass Radiography Survey

Venereal Disease

... ... ... ... ... ... ... .

20
20
20
22
23
26
26
27
31
33
35

41
41

SECTION D— SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE

Water Supply

Refuse Collection and Disposal

Atmospheric Pollution

Public Health Inspection of the area

AREA :
... 53
... 54
... 59
... 61

SECTION E— Housing

SECTION F— INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOODS 78
APPENDIX “ A ”

Report on tobacco smoking and cancer of the lung ... ... 79

APPENDIX “B ”

Report on the Clean Air Act, 1956 ... ... ... ... 83

COUNTY BOROUGH OF DONCASTER

HEALTH COMMITTEE

(31st December, 1957)

Chairman:

Councillor S. C. HOLBROOK

Vice-Chairman:

Councillor C. QUINCE

Committee:

Ihe Mayor (Councillor W. CHAPPELL, J.P.)

Alderman Mrs. R. HODSON
Alderman F. OGDEN

Councillor Mrs. E. R. D. CALLANDER, J.P.

Councillor A. CLARK

Councillor E. ELLIOTT

Councillor E. HUBBARD

Councillor Miss E. PLUMB

Councillor J. PORTER

Councillor Miss K. N. SURFLEET

Councillor P. W. WRIGHT, M.C., D.C.M.

MENIAL HEALIH SUB-COMMllTEE

Chairman:

Councillor S. C. HOLBROOK

Alcherman Mrs. R. HODSON

Councillor Mrs. E. R. D. CALLANDER, J.P.

Councillor E. ELLIOTT

Councillor E. HUBBARD

Councillor Miss E. PLUMB

Councillor J. PORTER

Councillor C. H. QUINCE

WHOLE AND PART-TIME STAFF

FOR YEAR 1957

Medical Officer of Health and Principal School Medical Officer :

H. L. SETTLE, m.sc., m.d., d.p.h, f.r.san.l, a.r.p.s.

Deputy Medical Officer of Health and Deputy Principal School

Medical Officer :

P. S. R. BURRELL, m.b., ch.B., d.p.h.

Assistant Medical Officers of Health and School Medical Officers

R. MOSS, B.sc., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., M.D. (New York).

J. M. MORFITT, B.sc., m.b., ch.B., d.c.h., d.r.c.o.g.

J. SELARP, L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S.

Orthopaedic Surgeon :

A. L SINCLAIR, b.sc., ch.B., f.r.c.s.

Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon :

P. H. BEALES, M.B., B.S., m.r.c.s., l.r.c.p., f.r.c.s. (Edin.).

Opthalmic Surgeon :

K. H. MEHTA, m.b., b.s., m.r.c.s., l.r.c.p., d.o.

Senior Dental Officer :

M. A. BASSETT, l.d.s. r.c.s.

Dental Officers :

T. W. BUCKLEY.

Chief Public Health Inspector :

J. HARRIS, A.M.I.S.E., m.s.la.

Deputy Chief Public Health Inspector :

W. B. TWYFORD, cert.s.lb., m.r.s.h., m.s.la.

( to 30th April, 1957),

A. ROBINSON, CERT.S.LB., cert meat and other foods, cert.

SMOKE INSPECTOR, M.S.LA. (from 3rd June, 1957).

Public Health Inspectors :

H. BURTON, CERT.S.LB., M.S.LA.

R. J. CHAMPION, CERT.S.LB., CERT. MEAT AND OTHER FOODS,

M.S.LA.

E. R. CROSS, CERT.S.LB., CERT. MEAT AND OTHER FOODS, CERT.

SMOKE INSPECTOR, M.S.LA.

W. FOWLER, CERT.S.LB., CERT. MEAT AND OTHER FOODS.

F. C. HALL, CERT.S.LB., CERT. MEAT AND OTHER FOODS.

B. T. HEMMING, cert.s.lb., cert, meat and other foods.,

M.S.LA.

J. H. JAMES (Trainee) (from 23rd September, 1957).

W. ROY (Trainee) (from 11th February, 1957 to 12th August, 1957).
A. A. WAKES (Trainee) (from 23rd September, 1957).

Superintendent Nursing Officer :

MISS E. WESTWATER, s.r.n., s.c.m., h.v.cert.

Senior Health Visitor and School Nurse :

MISS H. SEIERWIN, s.r.n., s.c.m., s.r.f.n., h.v.cert.

Health Visitors and School Nurses :

Miss B. ALEEN, s.r.n., s.c.m., h.v.cert.

Mrs. I. J. CHAPPELL,^.r.n., c.m.b., (Part i) h.v.cert.

Miss M. C. CROSLEY, s.r.n., s.c.m., h.v.cert.

Mrs. L GYMER, s.r.n., s.c.m., h.v.cert.

Mrs. J. HAIGH, s.r.n., s.r.f.n., c.m.b., (Part i) h.v.cert.

(to 31st May, 1957).

Miss K. MOODY, s.r.n., s.c.m., h.v.cert.

Miss Y. RASBERRY, s.r.n., s.c.m., h.v.cert. (from 15th July 1957)
Miss 1. RAWLINGS, s.r.n., s.c.m., h.v.cert.

Miss P. M. SHONE, s.r.n., c.m.b. (Part i) h.v.cert.

Miss H. WINTER, s.r.n., s.c.m., h.v.cert.

Mrs. E. A. YOUNG, s.r.n., s.c.m., h.v.cert.

Clinic Nurses :

Mrs. A. J. INGE, s.r.n.

Mrs. E. WAGSTAFFE, s.r.f.n.

Mrs. M. ROLLINSON, s.r.n., r.s.c.n.

Part-time Social Worker for Venereal Diseases :

Miss V. DUNFORD, s.r.n., s.c.m., h.v.cert.

Nurse in Charge of Ultra Violet Light Clinic :

Mrs. E. R. POWNALL, s.r.n.

M mud pal Midwives :

Mrs. E. M. BASSETT, s.c.m.

Miss R. M. BIRDSALL, s.r.n., s.c.m.

Mrs. J. M. CLARK, s.r.n., s.c.m. (to 31st May, 1957).

Mrs. Y. E. DEAKIN, s.r.n., s.c.m.

Mrs. E. DRABBLE, s.r.n., s.c.m.

Mrs E. M.’^LEESON, s.r.n., s.c.m. (from 1st June, 1957).

Mrs. J. MAUGHAN, s.r.n., s.c.m.

Miss C. L. PARROTT, s.r.n., s.c.m. (from 20th May, 1957).

Miss E. RISELEY, s.c.m.

Mrs. A. E. SAYLES, s.c.m.

Miss C. L. SWIFT, s.c.m., s.e.a.n.

Miss L. M. WHITTLE, s.c.m. (to 30th November, 1957).

Matron, Elnifield Park Day Nursery :

Miss E. P. BICKERSTAFFE, s.r.n.

Deputy Matron :

Mrs. J. NESLING, s.r.n. (7th January 1957 to 20th July, 1957).

Miss B. E. HATHAWAY, s.r.n., c.m.b. (Part i)

(22iid July to 26th August, 1957).

Mrs. P. M. JACKSON, s.r.n. (from 26th August, 1957).

Nursery Nurse :

Mrs. H. S. PERKS, n.n.e.b., s.c.c.r.

Nursery Assistants :

Mrs. B. DUDDINGTON.

Mrs. P. HORSTEAD.

Miss A. PARR.

Miss C. MILLS.

Superintendent Home Nurse :

Miss E. WASSELL, s.r.n., s.c.m., q.i.d.n.s.

Senior Home Nurse :

Mrs. A. SMITH, s.r.n., s.c.m. (as from 1st December, 1957).

Home Nurses :

Mrs. G. ALLERTON, s.e.a.n.

Mrs. A. BROOKS, s.r.n.

Mrs. E. BROWN, s.r.n., s.c.m., q.i.d.n.s.

Mrs. B. BUTLER, s.r.n., s.r.e.n.

Miss C. GILDON, s.r.n., s.c.m., q.i.d.n.s.

Mrs. H. J. GOLDTHORPE, s.r.n

Mrs. A. GRAY, s.r.n., c.m.b., (part i). (Part-time).

Mrs. S. HICKEY, s.r.n. (Part-time).

Mrs. B. M. JOHNSON, s.r.n., s.c.m. (Part-time).

Mrs. M. RUSHBY, s.r.n., s.r.e.n. (Part-time).

Mrs. M. SWIFT, s.e.a.n.

Mrs. P. M. TURVEY, s.r.n., s.r.e.n., c.m.b. (Part i).

Mrs. B. WATKINSON, s.r.n., c.m.b., (part i). (Part-time).

Speech Therapist :

Mrs. P. L. SCRIMINGER, l.c.s.t. (from 21st January, 1957).

Ambulance Officer :

L. BIGGS.

Clerk, Civil Ambulance Service :

Mrs. E. M. PRICKER.

Authorised Officer :

L. BROWN

Mental Health Worker (to 31-9-57)
Authorised Officer: (from 1-10-57)

H. G. SHEPHERD.

Supervisor, Occupation Centre :

Miss A. THORP, r.n.m.d., cert.r.m.p.a.

Senior Assistant Supervisor (Qualified) :
Mr. M. K. WOZNIAK.

Assistants (Unqualified) :

Mr. S. SHOOTER.

Miss A. HALE.

Miss E. McCABE.

Miss J. HOYLE.

Superintendent, Refuse Collection Section :
A. S. WILBURN.

Geriatric Worker

MRS. I. TROUT

Public Analyst :

H. CHILDS, B.sc., F.R.i.c.

Home Help Supervisor :

Miss L. NEWSOME.

Chief Clerk :

J. MALLTNDER.

Senior Clerk :

D. C. M. DEAN

Clerical Staff :

Miss F. m: anker.

Miss A. BEMBRIDGE.

Mrs. J. M. BOOTH.

Mrs. T. J. BETTANY

Miss F. M. BOWER, (from 9th October, 1957).

Miss R. COOK (to 19th January, 1957).

Miss P. CORRIGAN (to 28th September, 1957).

Mr. J. A. DIXON (from 30th September, 1957).

Mr. E. HUGHES.

Mrs. R. D. KOTERLA.

Miss K. LITCHFIELD.

Miss M. F. McGAHEY

(from 12th August, 1957 to 27th November, 1957).
Miss E. NOTHARD (to 21st September, 1957).

Miss W. RATCHELOUS (from 4th February, 1957).

Mrs. K. ROSBOTTOM.

Mrs. C. M. TAYLOR (to 7th December, 1957).

Miss F. D. WOOD.

Dental Attendants :

Mrs. D. M. DEAN.

Mrs. J. BONE.

Mrs. D. E. SMITH.

Welfare Foods A t tend ants :
Mrs. K. E. DUFFIN.

Mrs. M. E. ANGUS.

COUNTY BOROUGH OF DONCASTER

Health Office,

Doncaster.

REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1957

To the Council of the County Borough of Doncaster.

Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have the honour to present the Annual Report of the Medical
Officer of Health for the year 1957. This Report is long over-due due
to the continued operation of the factors repeatedly referred to in
previous reports. As a result, this introduction has been written many
months after I had left the employ of the Doncaster Corporation, whilst
the main text of the report has been prepared by my successor.
Dr. D. Randall Martin.

Staff changes and absences due to sickness again interfered with
the smooth-running of the Department. The following left the employ
of the Council during the year: —

Mr. W. B. Twyford, Deputy Chief Public Health Inspector
Mrs. J. Haigh, Health Visitor
Mrs. J. M. Clark

Miss L. M. Whittle
Miss R. Cook
Miss P. Corrigan
Miss M. F. McGahey
Miss E. Nothard
Mrs. C. M. Taylor

Midwives

Clerical Staff

Details of the persons replacing the above are given in the tables
on pages 4 — 8.

An opportunity to fill a long-standing vacancy for a part-time
Physiotherapist occurred during the year. She would have given treat-
ment to both school and pre-school children suffering from minor
orthopaedic defects. Unfortunately, before taking up duty with the
Department the lady was offered a more attractive post at Doncaster
Royal Infirmary, which she accepted.

Three pupil Public Health Inspectors were appointed during the
year but one resigned to enter industry after only a short period in the
Department.

An important and successful experiment was the appointment of
Mrs. I, Trout as part-time Geriatric Visitor for a period of six months.
She was appointed to pay regular visits to elderly persons, generally
living alone, in order to relieve the Health Visitors of much routine
work not requiring their specialist knowledge. Close co-operation is
maintained between the Geriatric Visitor and the Health Visitors who
are available to visit any old person where a problem requiring their
specialist knowledge is found or is liable to develop. The Geriatric
Visitor has been well received by the old people, who regard her as a
friend and confidante. This arrangement has proved most useful and
the same principle could with benefit be extended to other sections of the
Department.

The long-standing shortage of Public Health Inspectors continued
and in order to cope with the work of the Department, authority was
given for them to work on their “off duty” Saturday mornings.

Approved short refresher courses were attended during the year by
the Duly Authorised Officer, Chief Public Health Inspector, two Health
Visitors and two Midwives. The two pupil Public Health Inspectors
were also allowed time off for study at the Technical College.

PUBLIC CONVENIENCES

The programme for improving and increasing the provision of
public conveniences in the town was carried a step further. Improve-
ments agreed in 1955 in conjunction with the Parks Committee and
Parks Department were carried out at the conveniences near the main
entrance to Elmfield Park in Roman Road. The approaches were
altered so that the conveniences could be entered from both the park and
the main road during the day, but at night access to and from the park
can be prevented whilst leaving the conveniences available for use by the
general public from the main road at all times when the park is closed.
Included in the alterations was improvement to the lighting of the
approach paths to the conveniences. It was also agreed with the Parks
Committee that when the new Cantley Park at Everingham Road is
developed the proposed new conveniences to be provided by the Health
Committee in this vicinity should be constructed and sited to serve both
the park and the general public.

This principle of making suitably sited public conveniences in parks
also available to the general public when the park is closed gives a two-
fold advantage. It saves the cost of a convenience and provides
additional service for the public at very little cost. It could usefully be
adopted throughout the country and should be borne in mind whenever
new conveniences are constructed in parks, cemeteries and other places
used intermittently by the public.

In a review of the programme for new conveniences’ sites at the
junction of Green Boulevard and Cantley Lane, Lothian Road and
Shaftesbury Avenue and Tickhill Road and Sandford Road were agreed
to. It was also decided that as these conveniences will be sited on
important bus routes serving large numbers of the public, they should be
combined with shelters.

AMBULANCE SERVICE

In accordance with the practice of keeping the Department up to
date and as far as possible in the forefront of progress a new type of
automatic resuscitation apparatus was introduced in the Ambulance
Service. This was the British Oxygen Company’s “ Stephenson Minute-
man,” which administers oxygen and automatically applies artificial
respiration — in effect it breathes for the patient. The apparatus is
easily portable and by means of extension leads can be used in awkward
situations where normal methods of artificial respiration could not be
carried out. It is particularly valuable as it can be continuously used
whilst the patient is being transferred to an ambulance and also whilst the
patient is being conveyed by ambulance to hospital. It was hoped that all
eight ambulances would have been equipped immediately with this
important life-saving equipment, but on the grounds of economy the
Council decided to equip only two vehicles in 1957 and to obtain further
machines in the future.

SMOKING AND LUNG CANCER

Circular 7/57 of the Ministry of Health dealt with “Smoking and
Lung Cancer” and drew attention to the alarming increase in lung
cancer, especially in males, over the past 25 years. In my annual report
for 1955 I had previously pointed out that in Doncaster a five-fold
increase in the death rate for this disease had occurred between 1935 and
1955. A special report was prepared for the Council on this subject and
it is reproduced as appendix A (page 77).

Unfortunately the Council did not see its way to accept fully the
recommendations made to it and adopted only a limited number, i.e.,
membership of the Society of Non-Smokers, publicity and lectures by
the medical staff to senior school children.

CLEAN AIR

Special reports on the Clean Air Act, 1956, and on a proposed Smoke
Control Area for the town were made. These are reproduced as
Appendix B on page 81. The response from the Health Committee and
the Council to the opportunity offered to rid the town of the menace of
atmospheric pollution was most disappointing and little interest was

shown. It was obvious that an intensive campaign to inform all sections
of the community of the health hazards and economics of atmospheric
pollution and the benefits which would be obtained from clean air would
be necessary if any public interest was to be aroused and progress made.

The Council did, however, take one positive step towards ultimately
cleaning the air of the town by amending its Building Byelaws to require
all houses and certain other properties built after 1st October, 1957,
where solid fuel was to be used for heating and/or cooking, to be
provided with appliances suitable for burning solid smokeless fuels
and designed to avoid the production of smoke. This means that if any
houses built after 1st October, 1957, are in future included in a Smoke
Control Area, no expense will be incurred by the Council in converting
grates, etc., to enable them to comply with the Smoke Control Order.

CLEAN FOOD

The Food Flygiene Regulations, 1955, came into operation on the
1st January, 1956, and visiting of food premises for the purposes of
inspection and the giving of advice was continued during 1957.

A full report on the application of the Food Hygiene Regulations,
1955, to the Civic Restaurant and other catering establishments owned
by the Council was made to the appropriate committee in 1956. A
detailed report on the application of the Regulations to the extensive
catering facilities at the Race Course was made in 1957. It is a pleasure
to record the very full co-operation received from the Race Committee
and its officials in putting into effect the extensive and expensive
alterations and improvements recommended.

NURSERY AND CHILD MINDERS ACT, 1948

Applications for registration were received from two persons who
wished to establish private day nurseries in the town. Both were
approved, but in one case only after certain modifications in the original
proposals had been agreed to by the applicant.

TIMBER PESTS

In the course of my inspection of the catering facilities at the Race
Course the presence of woodworm in certain food preparing equipment
was observed. This suggested a possible wider distribution of the pest
and evidence was found of its presence in timbers of the fabric of certain
buildings. As this menace can spread continuously and widely if not
thoroughly treated, the Race Committee obtained expert advice and
undertook large scale treatment and preventive measures.

Woodworm is a serious problem which appears to be on the increase.
It can cause serious damage to timber in buildings necessitating expensive

repairs and giving rise to possible danger of aecidents. It also attaeks
furniture, etc., made of wood with economic loss. The full extent of the
distribution of the pest in the country is unknown but it is likely that a
careful nation-wide survey would reveal that it is widespread and few
buildings would be found that are not affected by it in some degree.
Even living trees in gardens are often attacked.

Unfortunately it is an insidious condition and unless specially
looked for is often overlooked in the early stages or even ignored. Even
if found, treatment is frequently inadequately carried out and this,
together with careless handling and disposal of infected wood, encourages
the spread of the trouble to other premises.

The condition is caused by a small beetle which can fly freely and
lays its minute eggs in cracks in sound timber. The eggs hatch in time
into tiny grubs which burrow into the substance of the wood where they
feed on the wood and in so doing form burrows which weaken the
timber. After a period of feeding and burrowing which may continue for
years the grub changes to an adult beetle and bores its way out, making
the characteristic hole in the surface of the timber to enable it to
escape.

The problem is made more serious by the fact that the first evidence
that infestation has occurred is only obtained by the appearance of
these flight holes in the wood surface, by which time the grub has done its
damage, which is invisible and the adult beetle has escaped to mate and
infect other property or furniture. Adequate local treatment at this
stage can limit the damage but cannot prevent further re-infestation.
For this purpose thorough and skilled treatment of all the woodwork is
necessary and this is expensive and often inconvenient.

In my opinion a careful nation-wide survey to determine the extent
of the problem is urgently needed and in addition education in the proper
methods of handling and disposal of affected timber is called for. All
infected timber and also the apparently “sound” material from
demolished premises should be burned on site with the minimum of
handling and transport. This policy was adopted by the Council in
connection with timber from slum clearance sites in the Borough. In
almost all the houses demolished evidence of woodworm or dry rot was
found and many had both.

Both woodworm and dry rot are conditions which can, be prevented
and in view of their growing economic importance it would be common
sense to require by legislation that all timber used in new buildings and
furniture be pre-treated for protection against these serious conditions.
Similarly it is logical to require that all timber used for repairs in existing
buildings should be similarly protected. The cost of this pre-treatment

must be set against the large sum which damage to untreated timber
costs each year. Local authorities, as the nation’s largest property
owners, have most to gain in this direction and could usefully set an
example by using only pre-treated timber for building and maintenance
work, especially on their housing estates.

In conclusion I wish to thank the Chairman and Members of the
Health Committee for their support and interest in the work of the
Department. Thanks are also due to the staff of the Department for
their conscientious attention to their duties and to the other Chief Officers
of the Council and their Staffs for their assistance and co-operation.

As usual, I am indebted to my medical colleagues, both in the
hospitals and in private practice, for their willing help at all times.

1 have the honour to remain. Ladies and Gentlemen,

Your obedient Servant,

June, 1960.

H. L. SETTLE,
Medical Officer of Health.

SECTION A

STATISTICS & SOCIAL CONDITIONS

GENERAL STATISTICS:

Area in acres

• • • • • •

• • « • • •

8,371

Population (Census 1951)

• • • • • •

82,054

Estimated resident population (mid 1957)

83,680

Number of inhabited houses (end of 1957)

26,435

Rateable value

• • • • • •

£1,083,586

Product of a penny rate, 1957-58

£4,300

VITAL STATISTICS:

Live Births:

Male

Female

Total

Legitimate

680

587

1,267

Illegitimate

Rate per 1,000 population

• • • • • •

• • •

... 15.15

(Corrected by Area Comparability Factor 0.94))

Stillbirths :

Male

Female

Total

Legitimate

Illegitimate

Rate per 1,000 total (live and still) births

. . .

... 23.88

Deaths :

Male

Female

Total

523

390

913

Rate per 1,000 population

* • • • • •

• • •

... 12.55

(Corrected by Area Comparability Factor (1.15)

Deaths from maternal causes :

From sepsis

. . • ...

« • •

From other causes ...

• • • . • *

• . .

—

Rate per 1,000 total (live and still) births

• . .

... 0.72

Deaths of infants under one year

of age :

Male

Female

Total

Legitimate

Illegitimate

Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births

. . .

... 34.10

Neonatal Mortality :

Male

Female

Total

Legitimate

Illegitimate

Rate per 1,000 live births

• • • • • •

• • • « • «

19.27

VITAL STATISTICS

England and Wales :

Total live births (rate per 1,000 population)

Total stillbirths (rate per 1,000 live and still births) ...
Total deaths — all causes (rate per 1,000 population) ...
All causes under 1 year (rate per 1,000 related live births)
Neonatal Mortality (rate per 1,000 related live births) ...
Maternal Mortality (rate per 1,000 live and still births)

16.1

22.4

11.5
23.0

16.5
0.47

Doncaster

Rates per

1,000 population

Deaths :

All causes

12.55

Typhoid and paratyphoid ...

—

Measles

0.01

Whooping cough ...

0.02

Diphtheria ...

—

Tuberculosis

0.08

Influenza

0.16

Smallpox

—

Acute poliomyelitis (including

polioencephalitis)

0.01

Pneumonia ...

0.38

Rates per

Deaths :

1,000 live births

All causes under 1 year of age ...

34.10

Enteritis and diarrhoea under

2 years of age ...

2.96

Maternal causes excluding abortion

*0.72

Due to abortion

—

Total maternal mortality ...

*0.72

* Per 1,000 total (live and still) births.

Comparative rates of Doncaster and England and Wales :

1957

Doncaster

1956

Doncaster

1957

England

and

Wales

Birth rate

15.15

16.09

16.1

Death rate

12.55

13.77

11.5

Infant mortality rate...
Maternal mortality

34.10

26.68

23.0

rate

0.72

1.37

0.47

BIRTHS

The total number of live births allocated by the Registrar General
to the Borough was 1,349, a decrease of 75 on the 1956 figure, giving a
birth rate of 15.15 per 1,000 estimated resident population, compared
with a rate of 16.09 in 1956. The rate for England and Walesi was 16.1.

DEATHS

The number of deaths in 1957 was 913 (523 males and 390 females),
a decrease of 74 compared with 1956, when there were 987 deaths (539
males and 448 females). The death rate was 12.55 per 1,000 estimated
population compared with a rate of 13.77 in 1956. The rate for England
and Wales was 1 1.5.

Deaths of Doncaster Residents in the Year 1957 Classified according

to Disease and Age-Period.

Registrar General’s figures, 1957

Cause of Death 1 Age Periods

5-15

15-25

25-45

45-65

65-75

75 -f

Total

1956

Tuberculosis, respiratory ...

, -

■

Tubercolosis, other

—

• —

—

Syphilitic disease ...

—

• —

Diphtheria ...

—

■ — ■

—

• — ■

—

Whooping Cough ...

—

Meningococcal infection ...

Acute Poliomyelitis

—

Measles

Other infective and

—

Parasitic Diseases
Malignant Neoplasm

—

■■

■

~~ —

■

*“ —

■

stomach ...

—

lungs, bronchus

—

„ „ breast ...

—

„ „ uterus ...

Other Malignant and

— —

Lymphatic Neoplasm

—

Leukaemia, Aleukaemia

—

Diabetes

Vascular Lesions of

— —

—

Nervous System

—

110

152

Coronary Disease, Angina
Hypertension with

—

128

142

Heart Disease

—

Other Heart Disease

—

108

111

Other Circulatory Disease...

—

Influenza

—

Pneumonia ...

—

Bronchitis ...

Other Diseases of

Respiratory System
Ulcer of Stomach

—

and Duodenum
Gastritis, Enteritis and

—

Diarrhoea

—

Nephritis and Nephrosis ...

—

• — -

—

Hyperplasia of Prostate ...
Pregnancy, Childbirth,

—

Abortion

—

Congenital Malformations
Other defined and

—

Ill-defined Diseases

—

Motor Vehicle Accidents ...

- — ■

—

All Other Accidents

—

Suicide

Homicide and Operations

—

of War

■■ “

—

TOTALS ...

223

253

335

913

987

SECTION B

HEALTH SERVICES OF THE AREA

HOSPITAL AND SPECIALIST SERVICES :

The following information, kindly supplied by the Secretary of the
Doncaster Hospital Management Committee, Mr. A. Jones, gives the
arrangements in force in 1957.

The hospitals in the Borough are :

(1) Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Thorne Road, a general hospital of
330 beds occupied by acute cases.

(2) Western Hospital, Springwell Lane, formerly known as Springwell
House Institution, a “joint user” establishment vested in the Minister
of Health in which Doncaster Corporation has a reservation of 250
beds under the National Assistance Act, 1948. In addition there
are 241 hospital beds devoted to the following purposes :

Obstetrics
Gynaecology
Psychiatry
Mental Deficiency
Sick children
Chronic sick

241

(3) Hamilton Lodge Maternity Home, Carr House Road, of 14 beds.

(4) Tickhill Road Hospital, Tickhill Road, containing 70 beds for
infectious cases and 42 beds for cases of pulmonary tuberculosis.

(5) St. Catherine’s Institution, Tickhill Road, a mental deficiency
institution of 528 beds.

The following hospitals, although situated outside the Borough, are
administered by the Doncaster Hospital Management Committee ;

(1) Conisbrough Hospital, formerly a hospital for infectious diseases, but

now considerably modernised and providing accommodation for
101 chronic sick patients.

(2) Fullerton Hospital, Denaby Main, a cottage hospital of 41 beds
which to some extent serves as a recovery hospital for patients from
Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

(3) Crookhill Hall Sanatorium, near Conisbrough, contains 52 beds for
male patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis.

In addition, there is a contractual arrangement whereby the
Hospital Management Committee has a reservation of 14 beds in the
Danum Lodge Nursing Home, Thorne Road, for chronic sick patients.

NURSING HOMES:

At the end of the year there were three registered nursing homes
within the County Borough. Two had a total accommodation for 2
psychiatric, 12 geriatric, and 34 general medical and surgical cases, and
one nursing home had 14 beds for maternity cases. The homes have
been inspected and found to be satisfactory. No unregistered homes
came to the notice of the Department.

LOCAL AUTHORITY SERVICES

CLINICS AND WELFARE CENTRES :

At the end of the year the following sessions were being held :

Wood Street Clinic

School Minor Ailment Clinic ...

Child Welfare Clinic

Immunisation and

Vaccination Clinic
Ophthalmic Clinic

Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic

Dental Clinic
Ultra Violet Light Clinic
Orthopaedic Clinic
Special School Clinic

Ante-natal Clinic

Post-natal and Conception

Control Clinic
Cleansing Centre

Alder Grove Church Hall, Balby

Ante-natal Clinic ...

Child Welfare Clinic

Immunisation and

Vaccination Clinic

9. 0 a.m. Daily
2. 0 p.m. Wednesday
4. 0 p.m. Monday and*

2. 0 p.m. Wednesday

9.15 a.m. & 1.15 p.m. Tuesday

9.15 a.m. Monday or

Wednesday,by appointment
11. 0 a.m. Monday,

by appointment
Daily by appointment
Daily by appointment
Once monthly by app3intment
By appointment
2. 0 p.m. Tuesday

4. 0 p.m. Tuesday
By appointment

9.30 a.m. Tuesday

11. 0 a.m. & 2. 0 p.m.

Tuesday

2. 0 p.m. Tuesday

All Saints’ Church Hall, Intake

Ante-natal Clinic ...

Child Welfare Clinic
Immunisation and

Vaccination Clinic

Cantley Clinic, 14, Acacia Road

Ante-natal Clinic ...

Child Welfare Clinic
Immunisation and

Vaccination Clinic

Wentworth Hall, Wheatley

Ante-natal Clinic ...

Child Welfare Clinic
Immunisation and

Vaccination Clinic

Ambulance Station, Armthorpe Road

Scabies Treatment Centre

Health Office

Maternity Bookings
Maternity Bookings for

Hamilton Lodee
Home Help Bookings

Cantley Clinic, 14, Acacia Road

10. 0 a.m. Thursday
2. 0 p.m. Thursday

2. 0 p.m. Thuisday

2. 0 p.m. Tuesday
10. 0 a.m. & 2.0 p.m. Thursday

10.0 a.m. & 2.0 p.m. Thursday

10. 0 a.m. Friday
2. 0 p.m. Friday

2. 0 p.m. Friday

By appointment

Daily

2. 0 p.m. Tuesday
Daily

Speech Clinic ... Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

and Thursday mornings and
Thursday afternoon.

MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE
Infant Deaths and Stillbirths :

Details of the deaths of infants under one year of age are shown in
the following table. The total of 46 represents a rate of 34.10 per
thousand live births compared with the rate of 26.68 in the previous year,
when 38 infant deaths occurred.

Stillbirths numbered 33, giving a rate of 23.88 per 1,000 live and
stillbirths. In 1956 the stillbirths numbered 35.

INFANT DEATHS

Age Grc

)ups

Under

Total under

4 weeks

Cause of Death

1 week

2 weeks

3 weeks

4 weeks

1-2

rnonths

2-4

months

4-6

months

6-8

months

8-10

months

10-12

months

Total

infant

deaths

1957

Prematurity

—

Pneumonia (in-
cluding broncho-
pneumonia)

Other respiratory
infections

Gastro-enteritis ...

—

Asphyxia

—

Congenital Defects
Heart

_ . __

Spina Bifida

—

— .

—

Other Congenital
Defects

Atelectasis

—

■ — -

—

Birth injuries

—

Meningitis

Other causes

—

All Causes ...

—

Premature Infants :

During the year 107 premature infants were born to residents of the
Borough, a decrease of 37 on the figure for 1956. Of these, 84 (78.5 per
cent.) survived to reach the age of one month.

(a) Number of premature infants who were born :

(i) at home

(ii) in hospital

(iii) in nursing homes

Total ... 107

(b) The number of those born at home :

(i) who were nursed entirely at home ... ... 30

(ii) who died during the first 24 hours —

(iii) who survived at the end of one month ... 27

(i) who died during the first 24 hours ... ... 11

(ii) who survived at the end of one month ... 53

Illegitimate Children :

During the year 82 live births and 4 stillbirths were illegitimate,
representing 6.2 per cent, of the total births, the rate in 1956 being 4.3.
The lowest figure so far recorded in the town was 3.5 per cent, in 1937.

There is no special home in Doncaster for the reception of un-
married expectant mothers, but the local authority makes a grant of
£100 to the funds of the local Moral Welfare Association, and assists in
maintaining necessitous cases in special homes in other areas. During
the year 14 cases were assisted in this manner at homes in Leeds, Sheffield,
Halifax and Bradford.

Distribution of Welfare Foods ;

The distribution of National Dried Milk, orange juice and other
vitamin preparations under the Welfare Food Scheme continued as in
the previous year, the largest proportion being issued from the main
distribution ceptre at the Gas Showrooms, Silver Street, Doncaster,
where there are two full-time attendants on duty from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to
12 noon on Thursday. Distributions were also made from the Alder
Grove Methodist Church School room on Tuesday afternoon, the Wood
Street Clinic on Wednesday afternoon. All Saints’ Church Hall, Cumber-
land Avenue, and 14-16, Acacia Road, on Thursday afternoon, and
Wentworth Road Church Hall on Friday afternoon.

A total of 37,871 tins of National Dried Milk, 85,758 bottles of
orange juice, 8,334 bottles of cod liver oil, and 6,320 packets of vitamin
A. and D. tablets were issued during the year.

Day Nursery :

The average daily attendance has been 20 children — only half the
capacity of the premises. Six of these children were under 2 years of age
and fourteen were aged 2 to 5 years.

At the end of the year the numbers on the register of the nursery
were:

Nursery

0—2

years

2—5

years

Total

Elmfield Park ...

Orthopaedic Clinic :

This clinic is under the supervision of Mr. A. J. Sinclair, Consultant
Orthopasdic Surgeon.

The following cases attended:—

Flat Foot

Knock Knee ...

Flat foot and knock knee

Genu varum

Spastic Deplegia

Torticollis

Other conditions

Ultra Violet Light :

The attendances at this clinic during 1957 were :

Expectant and Nursing Mothers ... ... Nil

Pre-school children 627

No expectant and nursing mothers attended during the year. The
total number of pre-school children attending was 43. At the end of the
year there were 1 1 pre-school children receiving ultra violet light
treatment.

Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat :

Pre-school children suffering from defects of the ear, nose and throat
can attend the Aural Clinic provided for school children, under the charge
of Mr. P. S. Beales, Consultant Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon. This
clinic is held each week in the Wood Street premises.

During the year 9 children below school age made 15 attendances
at the clinic. None of these children was referred to the Minor Ailment
Clinic for treatment.

Details of cases treated are as follows :

Enlarged tonsils and adenoids
Enlarged adenoids only

Otitis media

Minor ear, nose and throat conditions

In addition, 2 children below school age attended for post operative
examination after removal of tonsils and adenoids.

Errors of Refraction :

Children under school age who have eye defects or disease can
attend the Refraction Clinic provided by the Regional Hospital Board in
conjunction with the School Health Service. Mr. K. H. Mehta attends
for three sessions each week at the Wood Street Clinic premises.

During the year 24 children below school age attended the Refraction
Clinic for the first time, 10 on account of squint and 14 for other con-
ditions. In addition 33 children who had attended in previous years
were re <?xamined.

Minor Ailments :

Arrangements exist for young children suffering from minor ailments
to be treated together with children of school age at the Minor Ailment
Clinie. The majority, however, are referred to their own doctor for
treatment.

Infestation :

The parents of children infested with head lice are shown how to
deal with the condition and are provided with a proprietary preparation
to assist in the cleansing of the hair. Cases where home treatment is
unsuccessful are treated at the Wood Street Clinic. At the day nursery
children are admitted only if they are eompletely free from infestation,
and subsequently they are inspected daily and treated at the nursery if
necessary. ^

Priority Dental Services :

The facilities offered for the dental treatment of expectant and
nursing mothers and for children under school age continued as before.

Details of the treatment provided are given below :

(a) Numbers provided with dental care :

Needing

Treatment

Treated

Made

Dentally

fit

Expectant and

Nursing Mothers

Children under five

(b) Forms of dental treatment provided :

Scaling and Gum
Treatment

Number of
Fillings

Silver Nitrate
Treatment

Crowns or
Inlays

Number of teeth
extracted

Number ofGeneral
Anaesthetics
given

Dentures

Provided

Radiographs

Full Upper
or Lower

Partial

Upper or

Lower

Expectant and

Nursing

Mothers

—

Children under Five

—

The Principal School Dental Officer, Mr. M. A. Bassett, reports:

“ Maternal and Child Welfare Treatment for 1957 :

During the year dental treatment was given to 23 expectant and
nursing mothers and of these, 15 were rendered dentally fit. The
remainder failed to attend for the completion of their treatment.

Four children under the age of 5 years were also treated and three
were made dentally fit by the end of the year.

The need for early treatment of carious teeth cannot be stressed! too
strongly as unsound teeth are a danger to health. It is most important
that temporary teeth are saved by filling, rather than being left until
extraction is necessary, and this is stressed upon the parents when children
attend for treatment.”

MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS :

Medical Officers in the Department carry out medical examinations
of Corporation Staff and Workmen for purposes of the Superannuation
Scheme and also of applicants for admission to Training Colleges. In

addition they also carry out medical examination of bus conductors for
the Corporation Transport Department.

Number of Officers medically examined for superannuation

purposes 80

Number of workmen medically examined for superannuation

purposes 44

Number of Transport Department staff medieally examined 54

Number of students medically examined prior to entry to

Training College 53

Number of teachers examined ... ... ... ... ... 11

242

MIDWIFERY

General Midwifery Provision :

At the end of the year one private and 1 1 municipal midwives were
attending patients in their homes.

In addition, 18 midwives were employed by the Doncaster Hospital
Management Committee at the two maternity homes in the town, and
four midwives in a private nursing home.

Institution beds for maternity cases provided at the end of the year
by the Regional Hospital Board consisted of 14 beds in Hamilton Lodge
Maternity Home and 63 beds in Hamilton Annexe at Western Hospital.
In addition, 14 private beds were provided in one nursing home.

The following cases were attended during the year :

No. of deliveries attended by Midwives in the area during

the year

Domiciliary

cases

Doctor not booked

Doctor

booked

Doctor
present
at time
of

delivery
of child

Doctor

not

present
at time
of

delivery
of child

Doctor
present
at time
of

delivery
of child
(either the
booked
Doctor or
another)

Doctor

not

present
at time
of

delivery
of child

Totals

Cases in
Institu-
tions

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(a) Midwives employed
by the Authority ...

440

578

—

(b) Midwives employed
by voluntary
organisations

(i) Under arrange-
ments with the
Local Health
Authority in pur-
suance of Section
23 of the National
Health Service

Act, 1946 ... ...

(ii) Otherwise (includ-
ing Hospitals not
transferred to the
Minister under the
National Health
Service Act)

•

1814

(d) Midwives in Private
Practice (including
Midwives employed
in Nursing Homes)

202

Totals

440

578

2016

- - - 1

During the year, medical aid was summoned by midwives on 394
occasions. Of these requests for help, 252 were sent by midwives in
domiciliary practice and 142 by midwives in hospital or private practice.

IVluiiicipal Midwives :

There are 11 municipal Midwives, all of whom are qualified to
administer gas and air analgesia. Gas and air analgesia was administered
in 485 confinements, which represents 84 per cent, of their patients.
Pethidine was administered in 313 cases, or 54 per cent, of confinements.

The following is a record of their work :

Confinements attended as :

Midwives
Maternity nurses

578

461

117

Medical aid notes sent ...
Abnormalities or illness found :

At confinments

At ante-natal or post-natal visits

In infants

No. of stillbirths
Abortions attended

252

116

The midwives made 7,944 ante-natal and 304 post-natal visits to
patients.

Midwifery Training :

The number of pupils trained each year since the training scheme
started in 1952 is: —

1952

1953

1954

1955

1956
-1957

Ante-natal Care ;

Five ante-natal clinics are held each week (at Wood Street, Balby,
Wheatley, Intake and Cantley) and there were 1,303 attendances by
expectant mothers, of whom 208 were new cases. In 1956 250 new cases
attended.

13
5

7
12

The detailed figures are as follows :

Wood

Street

Balby

Wheatley

Intake

Cantley

Total

Sessions held ...

242

New cases

attending

218

Re-visits

331

112

131

318

193

1085

Total attendances

404

134

154

378

233

1303

Average per

session

Post-natal Clinic ;

During the year 24 women attended the clinic as new cases and
there were 38 total attendances.

Puerperal Pyrexia :

During the year 52 cases of puerperal pyrexia were notified and all
except 3 were treated in Tickhill Road Hospital. Of these, 31 were
Doncaster residents, an increase of 12 on the 1956 figure. Seven of the
cases occurred in home confinements and twenty-four in hospital. All
cases recovered after treatment.

Maternal Mortality :

There was one maternal death during 1957.

Maternity Outfits :

Maternity outfits are provided free for mothers who have their
confinements at home. Outfits were provided in 659 cases.

Conception Control Clinic :

This clinic is restricted to married women who for medical reasons
should avoid further pregnancies.

During the year 12 new patients were seen and a total of 38
attendances were made.

ANTE-NATAL CARE RELATED TO TOXEMIA

During the year discussions were held between medical representa-
tives of the Hospital Management Committee, the Loeal Health
Authority and the Local Medical Committee to eonsider medical issues

raised by the Memorandum of the Standing Maternity and Midwifery
Advisory Committee on the subject of ante-natal care related to toxaemia.
In general it was felt that the existing arrangements were satisfactory but
the following particular steps arising from the discussions have been
taken; —

(1) All midwives have been asked when booking a patient to urge
her to attend the family doctor or the ante-natal clinic.

(2) Details of the clinics available have been circulated to all mid-
wives and practitioners in the area.

(3) Arrangements have been made to follow up any patient who
fails to keep an appointment at the ante-natal clinic.

(4) The acquisition of a photo electric colorimeter for haemoglobin
investigation at the clinics is to be considered.

HEALTH VISITING

Details of the home and other visits made during 1957 are as

follows :

Routine visits to : Number of Visits.

Expectant mothers —

First visits ... ... ... ... 459

Total visits 809

Infants —

First visits 1251

Total visits ... ... ... ... 6375

Children (aged 1 year but under 2 years) 2319

Children (aged 2 years but under 5 years) 4648

15,861

Special visits (all age groups) to cases of :

Scarlet Fever 37

Pneumonia ... ... ... ... 21

Measles ... ... ... ... 248

Whooping Cough 136

Chicken Pox ... ... ... 16

Puerperal Pyrexia ... ... ... 19

Ophthalmia Neonatorum ... ... 2

Pemphigus ... ... ... ... 5

Poliomyelitis ... ... ... 6

Dysentery ... 22

1988

2,532

Other visits :

Diphtheria Immunisation

2733

Vaccination

1422

Nursery Applications

Infant Deaths

Stillbirths

Visits to Hamilton Lodge and

Hamilton Annexe

re maternity patients

144

Consultations with social

workers, etc

2031

Old People and Hospital After-care

1650

Ineffective visits

2353

Poliomyelitis Vaccination

111

10,592

Tuberculosis
Food Poisoning
Mumps
Erysipelas . . .
Gastro-enteritis
Meningitis ...

In addition, the Health Visitors paid 1,941 home visits in their
capacity as School Nurses and also made the following half-day sessional
attendances at the Welfare Centres and School Clinics, etc.:

Infant Welfare Clinics

Sessions

548

Ante-natal clinics

194

Chest Clinic (relief duty)

Ultra Violet Light Clinic

Poliomyelitis vaccination

School medical inspections

205

School vision tests

School immunisation treatments ...

School hygiene inspections

114

Weighing and measuring at schools

973

Passing for school

117

Minor ailment clinic

Aural clinic

The following table shows the number of persons engaged as health
visitors and school nurses on the staff over the past nine years, and the
number of visits paid.

Year

Health

Visitors

Routine
and special
visits

Visits to
babies

0-1 years

Visits to
infants
over 1 year

Visits to
Expectant
Mothers

1949

20,806

5,524

9,492

892

1950

20,590

5,284

9,338

823

1951

18,868

4,724

8,717

724

1952

19,418

4,738

8,277

683

1953

23,073

4,558

7,272

206

1954

20,566

4,527

5,765

653

1955

20,383

3,951

4,558

597

1956

24,839

4,469

4,296

599

1957

29,989

5,407

5,941

733

HOME NURSING :

This service has continued to expand and the total number of
visits made by the Home Nurses increased by 5,087 on the 1956 figure.
To deal with the additional demands being made on this service the use
of temporary part-time nurses has continued.

The following is a record of the work done by the Home Nurses
during the year 1957 : —

No. of cases on Register at 1st January, 1957 ... 241

No. of cases on Register at 31st December, 1957 ... 286

No. of cases dying during the period 205

New cases :

Classification

Cases

Visits

Medical

840

26,963

Surgical

124

3,824

Infectious disease

Tuberculosis ...

6,879

Midwifery complications

187

Totals

1,053

37,866

Patients included in above who were 65 or

Cases.

Visits.

over at the time of first visit

Children included in above who were under

596

19,034

5 years of age at the time of first visit
Patients included in above who have had

374

more than 24 visits

373

30,970

The following table shows how the demand for the Home Nursing
Service had increased each year since it was transferred to the local
authority in 1948, and how the staff has been increased to meet the
demand : —

Nurses on Staff
Whole-time
Equivalent

No. of visits
paid during
the year

1949

12,061

1950

15,309

1951

18,480

1952

21,504

1953

22,468

1954

21,754

1955

28,933

1956

32,779

1957

37,866

Local Authority Services for the
Chronic Sick and Infirm — 'Circular 14/57.

The fact that over one half of the cases and visits done by the Home
Nurses were to patients aged 65 and over is an indication of the amount
of care and attention these old people require. Many of these patients
were suffering from grave chronic disease requiring skilled and devoted
attention which, had it not been available from the Nursing Service,
would have entailed these old people going into hospital.

To assess quantitatively the extent to which the Home Nursing
Service prevented removal to hospital is an intangible matter,
particularly as hospital beds for the aged and infirm are too few in this
area. Certain it is that the resources of the Service were used to the
utmost to make such patients as comfortable as possible at home. To
this end equipment such as beds, mattresses, bed linen, pulleys, etc.,
was loaned and full use made of them. Many cases required two or
three visits and as in many instances the patient lived alone or with an
aged partner often requiring nursing care at the same time, great assistance
was obtained from home helps, night sitters and the Meals-on-Wheels
Scheme.’ There are many instances where the selfless devotion of these
attendants allowed the closing chapters to be spent in familiar and well
loved surroundings of home and friends.

DOMESTIC HELP

The demand for this service has shown a slight increase over that in
the previous year. The number of cases attended each year since the
service was introducd in 1947 is :

1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

1956

1957

109

226

337

329

304

327

381

383

478

485

The total number of hours worked was 1 15,606.

Number of Home Helps employed at 31st December, 1957 :

On register

Employed (part-time) ..

Types of cases attended during 1957

Maternity

Tuberculosis
General Medical
General Surgical
Aged

116

125

242

CONVALESCENT HOME TREATMENT

The National Health Service Act, 1946, authorises the sending of
persons for convalescent treatment where necessary. The patient is
required to contribute to the cost of treatment in accordance with his
means and the contributions of cases are assessed in accordance with the
Corporation’s scale of charges.

During 1957 four patients, two males and two females, were
sent for convalescent treatment to the following homes : —

1 to Metcalfe House, Harrogate

1 to Hartpool House, Broadstairs

2 to West Hill Convalescent Home, Southport

VACCINATION AND IMMUNISATION

Vaccination against Smallpox :

Vaccination of infants was again carried out at the five Infant
Welfare Clinics. During the year 496 infants, or 36.77 per cent, of
the total live births in the Borough, were vaccinated, an increase of
99 over the previous year. The following table shows the total number
of vaccinations carried out over the past ten years : —

No. of persons vaccinated

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

1956

1957

By Health
Department
Medical
Officers

. 40

162

131

119

169

220

204

215

243

307

By private

medical

practitioners

130

218

404

516

410

565

439

388

386

475

170

380

535

635

479

785

643

603

629

782

Age at date of vaccination

Under

1 year

1—2

years

2—4

years

5—14

years

15 years
or over

Total

By Health Department
medical officers

238

307

By private medical

practitioners

258

137

475

POLIOMYELITIS VACCINATION

Vaecination of children born in the years 1947 to 1956 continued
throughout the year, details of which are given in the following table :

Number who had
received only one
injection at
31.12.57.

Number vaccinated
with two injections at
31.12.57.

Number awaiting
vaccination at
31.12.57.

479

2,048

2,009

Note: — The above figures include those for the month of December,
1956, owing to return period to the Ministry of Health being
1st December, 1956, to 30th June, 1957.

DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION STATISTICS

A. Number of children who com-
pleted a full course of primary
immunisation in the authority’s
area (including temporary
residents) during the year ended
31st December, 1957

B. Number of children who
received a secondary (rein-
forcing) injection (i.e., subse-
quently to primary immunisa-
tion at an earlier age) during the
year ended 31st December, 1957

AGE

at date of final injection (as regards A)
or of reinforcing injection (as regards B)

Under 1

1 to 4

5 to 14

Total

736

216

137

1089

335

384

712

The following table shows the numbers protected against Diphtheria
since 1943 :

Age at 31.12.57
i.e., born in year

Under

1957

1—4

1953-

1956

5—9

1948-

1952

10—14

1943-

1947

Under

total

Number of children who
have completed course
(primary or booster) in
the period 1953-57

121

3025

4028

805

7979

Number of children who
have completed course
(primary or booster) in
the period 1952 or earlier

Estimated mid-year child
population

• —

—

2600

5407

8007

1320

5180

13000

19500

Immunity Index 100 A/C...

9.2%

58.4%

98.8%

81.98%

AMBULANCE SERVICE :

Patients, Journeys and Mileage :

The number of patients carried and the mileage run by the vehicles
of this service has decreased in comparison with the 1956 figures. In
1957 the number of journeys made was 11,320, the number of patients

carried was 17,835, and the mileage was 106,606. The following table
shows the journeys and mileage covered monthly and the patients carried

during the past eight years.

Year

Monthly Average

Patients Carried

Journeys

Mileage

Ambulances

Cars

1950

1,146

11,519

11,135

5,520

1951

1,046

9,205

9,217

4,079

1952

914

8,690

9,287

4,422

1953

957

9,122

10,894

5,559

1954

970

9,198

10,408

6,334

1955

988

9,129

10,702

7,964

1956

999

9,308

6,496

14,860

1957

943

8,883

8,947

8,888

The origin of requests for the Ambulance Service is shown in the
following table :

Origin

Journeys

Mileage

Local Hospitals

5,690

47,463

Other Hospitals

493

19,723

Medical practitioners

1,984

15,347

Corporation Departments ...

296

4,745

Emergency calls

962

3,889

Nursing homes

589

Other Ambulance Services

403

6,114

9,869

97,870

Non-medical

1,451

1,235

Total ...

11,320

106,606

Ambulance Service Vehicles ;

The following vehicles were in use for the Ambulance Service
during 1957 :

Date Acquired

Registration

Type

12th March, 1952

LWR 11

Austin Car

10th June, 1953

NDT 216

Austin Car

9th December, 1954

RDT 230

Austin Car

6th May, 1948

FDT 414

Morris Ambulance

13th December, 1948

GDT 174

Morris Ambulance

9th December, 1950

JDT 737

Morris Ambulance

7th November, 1951

KDT 853

Morris Ambulance

3rd October, 1952

LDT 944

Morris Ambulance

14th November, 1952

LOT 513

Morris Ambulance

23rd May, 1956

GDT 722

Morris Ambulance

Civil Defence Vehicles :

Date Acquired

Registration

Type

26th April, 1957

WDT 815
(First registered
2.4.56)

Bedford Ambulance

This vehicle was loaned to Doncaster Ambulance Service for the
purpose of training personnel for civil defence casualty collection. In
the case of emergency this vehicle would be used as an ambulance.

It must be realised, of course, that this vehicle is on loan to Don-
caster only, and if it is required by another Authority it would auto-
matically be transferred to them on instructions from the Ministry of
Health or the Home Office.

All vehicles are inspected monthly by the Corporation Transport
Department and a report issued on each. Minor repairs are carried out
by the Transport Department. Major repairs are carried out by the
official agents for the particular make of vehicle.

Long Distance Journeys ;

Patients requiring transport over 50 miles have again been conveyed
by rail, either as stretcher or sitting cases. In 1957 rail transport was
arranged for 18 patients, for 14 of which an escort was supplied from the
Ambulance Service.

Once again, thanks are due to the personnel of British Railways for
their willing co-operation and assistance in handling patients sent by rail.

EPILEPSY AND CEREBRAL PALSY
Epilepsy :

The Civic Welfare Officer states that two men and one woman have
come to his notice as suffering from epilepsy during the year. Three
men and three women are resident in the Western Hospital and one
woman is resident in the Maghull Homes for Epileptics, Liverpool. At
the end of the year the Local Education Authority was aware of 44
children, 20 girls and 24 boys, who were suffering from epilepsy, including
petit mal. Seven of these were pupils at the Open Air School and one
was a pupil at ^Residential Special School. The remaining children were
attending ordinary schools.

Cerebral Palsy :

The Civic Welfare Officer has no record of persons suffering from
cerebral palsy on his register.

At the end of the year there were eight known cases of children of
school age suffering from this condition. Of these, four were* mild cases

and able to attend the ordinary schools, three were attending the Open
Air Special School and there was one case of severe mental deficiency with
cerebral palsy. The Mental Health Service was aware of two males,
including the above mentioned child, of school age and one female on
their records.

No special arrangements exist for epileptics and cases of cerebral
palsy, each case being considered on its merits.

WELFARE OF THE BLIND
Ophthalmia Neonatorum :

The following table shows the incidence, etc., of ophthalmia
neonatorum among babies born during the year:

(i) Total number of cases notified during the year ...

(ii) Number of cases in which :

(a) Vision lost

—

(b) Vision impaired

—

•

Of the 12 cases notified, 5 were born at home and 7 in a Maternity
Hospital. All the cases responded well to treatment.

The Civic Welfare Department performs the Local Authority’s
duties under Part III of the National Assistance Act and has made
provision for home teaching, workshop employment, hostel accom-
modation and the general social welfare of the blind. The number of
new cases of blindness registered during the year was 14 and the number
of blind person on the register at the end of the year was 173.

The following tables are based on information kindly supplied by
the Civic Welfare Officer.

Registered Blind Persons :

Age Group

Male

Female

Total

0-5

—

5-15

(1) 1

(1) 2

16-20

21-39

40-49

50-64

(2) 15

(3) 17

(5) 32

65-69

(1) 10

(1) 20

70 and over ...

(3) 41

(4) 53

(7) 94

Totals ...

(7) 78

(7) 95

(14)173

(Figures in brackets denote the number of new cases registered

during 1957).

Follow-Up of registered blind and partially sighted persons :

Cause of Disability

Cataract

Glaucoma

Retrolental

Fibroplasia

Others

(i) Number of cases

registered during the year
in respect of which para.

7 (c) of forms B.D.8 re-
commends :

(a) No treatment

—

(b) Treatment (medical,
surgical or optical) ...

—

At the end of the year there were 46 persons on the register. Of
these casQ>17 were first registered during the year.

Age and sex Distribution :

0-1

2-4

5-15

16-20

21-

■49

50-64

65 and
over

Total

Males

— -

—

0) 1

(1)

(3) 6

(5) 13

(10) 22

Females ...

—

(2)

(5) 17

(7) 24

Total ...

—

(1) 1

(3)

(3) 8

(10) 30

(17) 46

(Figures in brackets denote the number of cases registered during 1957).

NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT, 1948

No cases were dealt with in accordance with Section 47 of the Act
during 1957.

THE NURSERIES AND CHILD-MINDERS’ REGULATION
ACT, 1948.

Two persons were registered under the above Act during 1957.

HEALTH EDUCATION;

Posters, picture sets, leaflets, etc., were extensively displayed at the
clinics and welfare centres and also in the Health Department. Three
sites were used for displaying posters on frames in different parts of the
town. In addition, five hundred copies of “ Better Health ” are distributed
monthly to members of the Council, schools, general medical
practitioners, clergymen, charitable associations, etc. The staff of the

Health Department accepted invitations to address organised groups of
people on health subjects, but the main opportunities for health
education, however, occurred during interviews with people attending
the clinics and during the visits of health visitors and sanitary inspectors
to the homes of people.

Smoking and Cancer of the Lung :

In response to a request from the Ministry of Health, an extensive
campaign was held during the latter part of the year in connection with
smoking and cancer of the lung. An increase in deaths from this disease,
particularly in males, had been attributed largely to tobacco smoking
and it was the intention of the Local Health Authority to bring this to
the notice of the general public.

Advertisements pointing out the dangers of tobacco smoking
appeared in the local press, and posters were displayed in Corporation
Departments, schools, factories and buses, and on propaganda frames in
various parts of the town. Pamphlets were distributed to the public
explaining the connection between smoking and cancer of the lung.

Health Visitors took every opportunity of bringing the problem to
the notice of mothers at maternity and child welfare clinics and during
home visits.

Lectures were given by medical officers of the Health Department
to meetings of Parent-Teacher Associations and also to older school
children, where it was considered the greatest benefits were to be obtained
by inducing young persons not to take up smoking.

The Council also became a member of the National Society of
Non-Smokers.

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE
Administration :

The Health Committee is responsible for the service through its
Mental Health Sub-Committee. The Sub-Committee meets quarterly.

The staff employed in the Mental Health Service is as follows : —
Medical Officers Medical Officer of Health

Deputy Medical Officer of Health
2 Assistant Medical Officers of

Psychiatric Social Workers
Duly Authorised Officers
Mental Health Officers

Health

Nil

1 (redesignated D.A.O. as from

Occupation Centre

1.11.57)

1 (R.M.P.A., R.N.M.D.)

Supervisors
Assistant Supervisors

5 (one qualified)

The Duly Authorised Officer and the Mental Health Officer have
the privilege of attendance at the local psychiatric out-patients’ clinics
at the Royal Infirmary, Doncaster. Ex-mental hospital patients requir-
ing after-care are notified by the mental hospital medical staff and
contact is maintained with them.

Close liaison is maintained with the Medical Superintendent of St.
Catherine’s Mental Deficiency Institution. Mental defectives on licence
are supervised on behalf of the Hospital Management Committee and
home circumstance reports are completed in respect of patients whose
Orders are due for reconsideration under Sections 11 and 12 of the
Mental Deficiency Act, 1913.

No duties have been delegated to voluntary associations in the town.

During the year, the Mental Health Officer completed the second
and third part of a course at the Leeds University arranged by the
National Association for Mental Health.

Account of Work Undertaken in the Community ;

( 1 ) Under Section 28, National Service Act, 1946 :

Measures taken for prevention of Mental Illness, Care and After-
care of the Mentally 111 and Defective.

As mentioned in previous reports, the psyehiatric clinies eontinue
to function at the Doncaster Royal Infirmary under the auspices of the
Sheffield Regional Hospital Board and there are facilities for both in-
patient and out-patient treatment.

Suitable ex-mental hospital patients are referred to the Mental
Health Service for provision of after-care and this work is increasing.
There are some 39 mental defectives who are supervised on a friendly
basis.

(2) Under the Lunacy and Mental Treatment Act, 1890-1930, by Duly
Authorised Officers and Mental Health Staff :

The following table shows the number of patients dealt with under
the enactments relating to mental health during the year 1957: —

Males

Females

Total

Certified

S.16

Lunacy

Act, 1890

Voluntary

Sec. 1

M.T. Act

Temp.

S.5

Lunacy Act, 1890:

3 day Orders

Section 20

—

14 day Orders

Section 21

- —

. , .

Urgency Orders

Section 11

. ...

—

Summary Reception

Orders,

Section 16

Mental Treatment

Act :

Voluntary cases

Section 1

Temporary cases

Section 5

—

112

104

—

Cases notified which

proved to be abortive . .

Total cases notified
and investigated

154

The table below shows the number of patients admitted to mental
hospitals during the past three years. The percentage of patients entering
and remaining at mental hospitals under the voluntary case procedure is
now at a high level.

Year

Certified cases
admitted

Voluntary cases
admitted

Percentage of
Voluntary cases

1955

40%

1956

101

84%

1957

104

98%

The admission of patients to mental hospital has proceeded smoothly
and satisfactorily. Appreciation is expressed for the ready co-operation
of the medical staff of Middlewood Hospital especially in respect of cases
presenting special difficulties.

(3) Under the Mental Deficiency Acts, 1913-1938.

(i) Arrangements for ascertaining and supervision of mental
defectives: —

The following table shows the number of mental defectives ascer-
tained during the year ended 31st December, 1957, together with the
number of defectives under statutory and friendly supervision as at
31st December, 1957 : —

Cases reported by Local Education
Authority (Sec. 57) Education Act,
1944: —

Males

Females

Total

(i) under section 57 (3)

(ii) under section 57 (5)

—

other sources

Total number of cases notified during
the year

Number of cases awaiting removal to
institutions as at 31st December, 1957:

Statutory Supervision Cases

144

Voluntary Supervision Cases

During the year 10 cases were admitted to St. Catherine’s Institution,
Doncaster, in accordance with the short stay provisions outlined in
Circular 2/52.

Three cases were admitted to St. Catherine’s Institution under the pro-
visions of the Mental Deficiency Acts, 2 cases (females) on petition under
Section 6 and 1 case (female) “ placed ” in accordance with Section 3.

Contact is regularly maintained with supervision cases and advice
and assistance given where appropriate. Cases in need are referred to
the National Assistance Board.

(ii) Guardianship

There were no cases subject to Guardianship Orders during the
year.

(iii) Arrangements for carrying out the statutory duty to provide
occupation and training for defectives in the area.

Defectives of all ages are catered for at the Occupation Centre.
As at 31st December, 195J, there were 71 children in attendance as
follows :

Males

Females

Total

Doncaster C.B.

West Riding County Council

The pupils are conveyed to and from the Centre by omnibus, a
mid-day meal is prepared on the premises and in needy cases is supplied
free of charge. Free milk is issued similar to the milk in schools scheme.

SECTION C

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Disease.

Quarter

ending

March

N C

Quarter

ending

June

N C

Quarter

ending

September

N C

Quarter

ending

December

N C

Total

N C

Scarlet Fever

Whooping Cough

Acute

Poliomyelitis

Paralytic

—

Non-paralytic

—

Measles

181

323

—

528

149

309

308

489

488

Dysentery

—

■ —

—

Meningococcal

Infection

—

Acute Pneumonia

—

Acute

Encephalitis

Infective

—

■ —

—

Post Infectious

—

Erysipelas

—

Food Poisoning

—

■ — -

—

Puerperal Pyrexia

Ophhalmia

Neonatorum

—

Tuberculosis

Respiratory

Meninges

& C.N.S.

—

Other

—

N= notified C = subsequently confirmed

The above table shows the prevalence of infectious diseases for
each quarter of the year by sex. In the following commentary 1957
figures are compared with 1956 figures.

1. Scarlet Fever was most prevalent during the first quarter. The
total confirmed cases shows a reduction of 28 from the previous year.

2. Whooping Cough. The majority of cases occurred before the
summer, and 26 fewer notifications were received this year. There were
2 deaths from whooping cough, one in a child under 1 and one in the
1-5 years age group.

3. Poliomyelitis. Of the 11 confirmed cases, all occurred in the
latter half of the year. This was one more case than occurred in 1956.
On« death from poliomyeltis was accorded in the 25-45 age group.

4. Measles. 1,016 cases of measles were confirmed in the Borough,
the majority of these (631) occurring in the second quarter. There were
142 more cases of measles as compared with 1956. One death from
measles in the 5-15 year old age group was recorded.

5. Dysentery showed a marked reduction from 54 confirmed cases
to 7 confirmed cases.

6. Meningitis showed the same incidence as last year.

7. Encephalitis. 4 cases were notified, one of these belonging to the
W.R.C.C. and 2 others were subsequently diagnosed as chicken pox.

8. Erysipelas. 4 cases, an increase of 1, were notified in 1957.

9. Food Poisoning. 15 cases were notified, compared with 14
during 1956.

10. Puerperal Pyrexia. 52 cases were notified, an increase of 16 cases.
Of these cases 27 were Doncaster Residents, 6 occurred in home confine-
ments and 46 in hospital.

1 1. Ophthalmia Neonatorum. 12 cases were notified, an increase of 4
over the previous year. All cases recovered. None was known to have
suffered from impairment of vision.

12. Tuberculosis. 72 cases of tuberculosis were notified, viz., 70
cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, 1 of the Meninges and 1 other.

TUBERCULOSIS CARE AND AFTER CARE
Prevention :

Close co-operation exists at all levels between the staff of the Chest
Clinic and that of the Health Department. A visit is paid by a health
visitor to the home of every new case coming to the notice of either the

47.

Chest Clinic or the Health Department and a report submitted to the
Medical Officer of Health with a copy to the Consultant Chest Physician.
All cases and contacts on the departmental register are re-visited at
intervals of six months or more frequently if desirable, and any special
difficulties are reported to the Medical Officer of Health, a copy again
being passed to the Consultant Chest Physician. The health visitors
visit the Chest Clinic to discuss any special problems with the medical
staff of the Chest Centre, Special attention is paid to finding the source
of infection of new cases and in preventing the spread of the disease to
contacts. Where appropriate, disposable sputum cups are provided free.

MASS MINIATURE RADIOGRAPHY

A Mass Radiography Unit of the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board is
based at the Western Hospital. The Unit periodically operates in the
town in industrial premises and also has special sessions in hired premises
for the general public.

The Health Department collaborates in making the arrangements
and publicity, etc., for the public sessions. The findings of the 1957
survey are given below: —

Sessions at Oxford Place, February and March,

1957.

Males

Females

Total

Total radiographed

5067

7254

12321

Recalled for medical interview ...

151

141

292

Referred to Chest Clinic ...

135

Referred to Own Doctor

140

No action after interview

Clinic findings — Mass Radiography :

No.

No. of cases
per 1,000
examinees
this Survey

No. of cases
per 1,000
examinees
during 1953

Cases of :

Abnormalities of bony thorax and soft
tissues — congenital

Abnormalities of bony thorax and soft
tissues — acquired

—

Bacterial and virus infections of the
lungs

—

Bronchiectasis

1.22

1.33

Pulmonary fibrosis — non-tuberculous

—

Pneumoconiosis ...

2.51

12.45

Emphysema

—

Benign tumours of lungs and
mediastinum ...

■

Carcinoma of lungs and mediastinum ...

.24

.30

Sarcoidosis and Collagenous Diseases...

—

Pleural thickening and calcification ...

—

Abnormalities of diaphragm and
oesophagus

Congenital abnormalities of heart and
vessels ...

Acquired abnormalities of heart and
vessels ...

Miscellaneous (foreign bodies, etc.) ...

7.95

5.05

Tuberculosis ;

Active

1.14

1.34

Inactive

5.19

3.46

In addition, 10,679 examinations were made during visits to the
British Railways Locomotive Works and other smaller works in the town.

B.C.G. Vaccination :

B.C.G. Vaccination of selected child contacts exposed to special
risk of infection is carried out by the medical staff at the Chest Centre.
During 1957, 63 children were vaccinated and none has suffered any
complication.

Admission to Settlements ;

A few selected patients are considered suitable for admission to a
residential settlement where, under medical supervision, they can continue
their trade or learn a new one. They work under sheltered conditions,
their working hours and their activities being carefully supervised. They
earn a wage which in the initial stages does not cover the cost of their
maintenance at the Settlement and the Corporation contributes to this.

As they recover, their earning capacity increases and the cost to the
Corporation is reduced until ultimately the man may be able to support
himself and his family at the Settlement. Three Doncaster residents
are at present at the Sherwood Village Settlement and are responding
satisfactorily.

Care and After-Care :

The Local Health Authority provides home helps, extra nourish-
ment, nursing equipment and bedding, etc., to suitable cases undergoing
treatment at home. Sufferers from tuberculosis are subject to more
generous treatment in assessing the charges, if any, to be made for such
services.

Extra nourishment comprises 1 pint of milk per day and eggs and
butter to a value of 4s. Od. per week. It has been found that patients
prefer the eggs and butter to a second pint of milk which was
previously supplied. Extra nourishment is only granted to cases for
whom it is recommended by the Consultant Chest Physician and periodic
reviews of cases receiving it are made.

There is also a voluntary Tuberculosis After Care Committee of
which the Medical Officer of Health is a member and to the funds of
which the Corporation makes a grant of £80 per annum. This Com-
mittee serves Doncaster and the surrounding areas and gives assistance
to needy cases with special problems which do not come within the scope
of the Local Authority or State services.

This Committee is most useful and works in close collaboration
with the Health Department.

VENEREAL DISEASE

The following figures show the number of new cases among Don-
caster residents dealt with for the first time in 1957 :

Doncaster

Royal

Infirmary

Other

Centres

Syphilis

Gonorrhoea

—

Non-venereal ...

138

—

Totals ...

208

The numbers of new cases of syphilis and gonorrhoea reported were
61 and 74, respectively. In 1956 the corresponding figures were 38 and 81.

DEATHS ATTRIBUTABLE TO, OR ASSOCIATED WITH,
MALIGNANT GROWTHS (CANCER)

The following deaths in Doncaster residents attributable to, or
associated with cancer, occurred during 1957 :

Site

Male

Female

Total

Mouth and Pharynx

—

Oesophagus ...

Stomach

Intestines

Larynx

Bronchus

Lung

Breast ...

—

Uterus

—

Ovary ...

—

Vulva ...

—

Lymphatic System

Prostate

—

Kidney

Bladder

Skin

—

Liver ...

Pancreas

Nose ...

Blood ...

—

Cheek ...

—

Generalised ...

171

Age Group

Male

Female

20-24

—

25-29

— •

—

30-34

— •

35-39

— .

40-44

—

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

^ 65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85-89

90-94

—

95-99

—

Year

Deaths in
Doncaster from
Cancer of Lungs
and Bronchus

Death rate
per 1,000
population

1935

.073

1940

.08

1945

.15

1950

.31

1955

.37

1956

.44

1957

c39

The above table shows the deaths from Cancer of the Lungs and
Bronchus since 1935.

SECTION D

SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE

AREA

WATER SUPPLY

The following information has been kindly supplied by the Borough
Surveyor and Water Engineer, Mr. M. Cawley, B.Sc., A.M.I.C.E.,
A.M.l.Struct.E., M.l.Mun.E., A.M.I.WE.

The water supply of the town has been satisfaetory in, both quantity
and quality during the past year.

Samples have been taken from boreholes, reservoirs and water towers
each quarter and submitted to the laboratory for bacteriological
examination.

Source

Raw Water

Water into Supply

Boreholes

Satisfactory

Unsatisfactory

Satisfactory

Unsatisfactory

Reservoirs

—

Water Towers

—

— •

—

Samples have also been submitted for chemical examination.

Source

Satisfactory

Unsatisfactory

Boreholes

Reservoirs

—

Water Towers

—

The eight unsatisfactory bacteriological samples from reservoirs
have been confined to the Thrybergh Reservoir raw water supply, but the
chlorination treatment at Thrybergh, and Warmsworth and Butterbusk
service reservoirs, has proved entirely satisfactory in making this supply
fit for consumption.

No reports of plumbo-solvent action have been received.

Approximately 37,600 premises and a population of 129,470 are
supplied from public water mains.

Further distribution mains extensions have taken place in the areas
developed at Cantley Stages 4 and 5A, Intake Estate and an area of
development south of Warmsworth Road.

Three boreholes have now been sunk at Finningley, an order has
been placed for pumps for two of the boreholes and work has commenced
on the superstructures. A temporary pump has been utilised in a trial
borehole on the Finningley site to meet increasing consumption prior to
the servicing of the main boreholes.

The sources of supply and the quantities abstracted, are shown in
the following table : —

Source of Supply

Average daily quantity

Impounding Reservoirs —

Gallons

Thrybergh

495,807

Langsett

874,688

Boreholes —

Nutwell

1,073,837

Thornham

1,765,263

Rossington Bridge

1,314,349

Finningley (Temporary)

196,010

Don Valley Water Board

(Bulk Supply

247,255

5,967,209

MAIN DRAINAGE AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL

The Lower Bessacarr Surface Water Drainage Scheme has now been
completed.

The construction of the main Pumping Station at the Sandall Sewage
Disposal Works is approximately 75% complete.

The soil and surface water drainage for the second stage of Hills
Lane private housing development is now 60% complete, and that for
Cantley Housing Development is approximately 40% complete.

REFUSE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL
Refuse Collection

The collection of refuse is carried out by a section of the Health
Department. Fourteen refuse collection vehicles and two vans are
employed.

The large refuse containers continue to be purchased and by the
end of 1957, 41 of these had been issued. In addition, 26 are in use at
the Markets.

As in 1956, trouble was again experienced by the influx of “Gypsies”
for the September Race Week and this section was called upon to provide
the temporary latrines and for a general “ clean up ” when the site had
been vacated.

The following data are given relative to the activities of the Refuse
Collection Section during the year: —

Emptying of Privy Middens, Pail and Chemical Closets :

No. of Houses served 40

No. emptied, including temporary pail closets used in

connection with race meetings, fairgrounds, etc. ... 6,673

Emptying of dustbins, etc.:

Frequency of collection ... ... ... ... ... weekly

No. of new dustbins supplied to domestic premises ... 3,203

No. of dustbins supplied to Corporation Departments 81

No. of Refuse Containers supplied ... 19

Loads of Refuse removed :

Nightsoil ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 129

House and Trade Refuse ... ... ... ... 12,456

Salvage 2,475

Total loads removed ... ... 15,060

These loads were disposed of as follows :

Holmes Depot

Armthorpe Road Controlled Tip
Cooking’s Tip, Balby

15,060

2,555

5,923

6,582

Disposal of Refuse :

The disposal of refuse is supervised for the Health Committee by
the Borough Surveyor and close co-operation is maintained between the
two Departments at all levels.

The two Controlled Tips, at Armthorpe Road and Cooking’s
Quarry, Balby, continue to be used and are ideally sited for refuse
disposal. Regular visits are paid by the Medical Officer of Health,
Publ ic Health Inspectors and Rodent Operatives.

The weights of refuse dealt with at the Holmes Depot and Con-
trolled Tips were as follows :

House

Refuse

Night

Soil

Trade &
Other
Refuse

Ashes

Total

i Holmes Depot ...

Tons

Tons
93. 9.0

Tons
1566 5.0

Tons

1659.14.0

1 Armthorpe Road
Controlled Tip

15461. 4.0

61. 0.0

1367.12.0

2270. 0.0

19159.16.0

Cocking’s Tip,
Balby

13186. 9.0

—

866.14.0

2164.10.0

16217.13.0

Totals ...

28647.13.0

154. 9.0

3800.11.0

4434.10.0

37037. 3.0

Salvage :

The following table shows to the nearest ton, materials salvaged and
disposed of at the Holmes Depot :

Tons.

Cwts.

Qrs.

Waste paper

1,592

Pressed tins

152

Heavy iron

Light Iron, bedsteads and dustbins

Non-ferrous metals

Rags and sacking

Cullet

Bottles

160 doz.

1,834

Distribution of Dustbins ;

Under the Council’s Municipal dustbin scheme this Section is
responsible for the storage and distribution of new dustbins.

The total number of dustbins and containers issued during 1957
was 3,303.

Other Duties :

This section has provided labour and vehicles to transport stock of
Welfare Foods from the Clinic premises to the Welfare Foods Depart-
ment in Silver Street weekly throughout the year.

Welfare Foods to Welfare Clinics, milk samples to Sheffield,
Atmospheric Pollution duties, spraying verminous houses, screens to
schools, furniture to houses (Care and After Care) have been dealt
with when the Department’s van was not available.

Staff :

The staff of the section comprises a superintendent, a foreman,
thirteen drivers and forty loaders.

Although the loading staff has been kept to the required number,
absence through sickness and men failing to report for work for other
reasons has meant a considerable amount of overtime having to be
worked, as every effort is made to clear refuse once each week.

Transport :

The Transport Department of the Corporation undertakes the garag-
ing and maintenance of the refuse collection vehicles. Close
co-operation is maintained between the two Departments.

The following table gives details of fuel consumption from 1954.
The decrease in consumption is largely due to the use of diesel vehicles,
but every care is taken in the use of fuel, by careful planning of work :

Vehicles

Fuel — Gallons

Year

Petrol

Diesel

Petrol

Diesel

Total

1954

—

15939

—

15939

1955

14865

784

15649

1956

12737

2267

15004

1957

10160

2909

13069

* Petrol vehicles — 15 to March, 1955

14 March to Sept., 1955

13 Sept, to Nov., 1955

12 from December, 1955

11 from January, 1957

Diesel vehicles — 1 from March, 1955

3 from September, 1955

4 from December, 1955

5 from January, 1957

* Additional vehicle from April, 1955.

The following table gives a complete return for each vehicle for
the year 1957 :

No.

Type

When

Pur-

chased

Number

Worked

of hours

In garage
for
repair

Mileage

K. 1

Karrier Bantam

1950

21941

628

7279

SD2

Fore & Aft Tipper ...

1952

27001

176

8755

SD3

9? • . .

1952

2606

182

4716

SD5

99 ^9 • « •

1954

25801

234

5826

SD6

99 ^9 • • •

1955

26571

180

7111

SD7

^9 99 ♦ • •

1955

2759

1141

5602

SD8

99 99 • * •

1955

28021

6359

Jan.

SD9

99 99 • ♦ •

1957

25051

119

8365

K.12

Karrier Bantam

1944

2281

354

6087

K.13

999 99 • * •

1945

2509

1541

6973

K.14

999 99 « • •

1947

2168

505

5680

K.15

999 99 • • *

1948

2549

1971

6843

K.16

99 9 9 9 ♦ • •

1948

26591

901

7350

K.17

99 9 9 9 • • •

1948

2440

127

6275

K.18

Fordson Van

1949

2348

10291

S.19

Seddon Van ...

1955

24111

7005

Totals

40172

3190

110,517

These figures give a percentage efficiency of 92.6 for the fleet for
the year.

ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION

Thornham Borehole,

Branton

Bessacarr ... ...

Sandall Sewage Works

Tickhill Road

Hospital

Hexthorpe Flatts

Baxter Gate

(Town Centre)

1—1

<— (

Pi3

L/>

rt>

-L-

•-1

D-

C-

L/x

’O

(—1

•o

<— 1

L/»

-o

•c

-o

CJQ

L/1

-a

•4L

t-^

•

h- ^ 1

-JL

''O

-o

sy<

L#J

a»

Cl.

<T>

i-J

(T)

l-J

c/n

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el-

CfQ

i-i

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ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION

PUBLIC HEALTH INSPECTION OF THE AREA

The following tables, etc., have been supplied by the Chief Public
Health Inspector, Mr. J. Harris, in accordance with the Public Health
Officers (Outside London) Regulations, 1935 :

Complaints received and dealt with ... 1,663

Inspections and re-inspections re complaints ... ... 4,141

Preliminary notices issued (written and verbal) ... 377

Preliminary notices complied with ... ... ... 257

Statutory Notices served :

Public Health Act, 1936 :

Section 39 ... ... ... ... ... ... 13

Section 44 ... ... ... ... ... ... —

Section 45 ... ... ... ... ... ... 8

Section 79 ... ... ... ... ... ... 1

Section 93 ... ... ... ... ... ... 6

Housing Act, 1957 :

Section 9 ... ... ... ... ... ... 20

Doncaster Corporation Act. 1931 :

Section 104 ... ... ... ... ... ... 398

Factories Act, 1937 :

Section 7 ... ... ... ... ... ... —

Statutory Notices complied with :

Public Health Act, 1936 :

Section 39— by owners ... ... 21

work done in default by contract ... 10

Section 45 — by owners ... 11

work done in default by contract ... 3

Section 79 — by owners ... 1

work done in default by contract ... —

Section 93 — by owners 3

work done in default by contract ... —

Housing Act, 1957 :

Section 9 — by owners ... ... ... ... 26

work done in default by contract ... 12

Doncaster Corporation Act, 1931 :

Section 104 — by owners 63

by Corporation in default ... ... 300

sewers cleared ... ... ... ... 75

Factories Act, 1937 :

Section 7 — by owners ... ... ... ... 1

Legal Proceedings ... ... ... ... ... —

Nuisances abated and defects remedied ... ... 10

Accumulations of manure and other refuse removed ... 15

Drains cleaned out, re-laid or repaired 333

do. new inspection chambers provided ... ... 5

do. new inspection chamber covers provided ... 6

do. ventilating and soil pipes renewed or repaired ... 6

do. gullies cleaned out ... ... ... ... 4

do. gullies provided with new metal grids —

do. new trapped gullies provided ... ... ... 3

Dwellinghouses, roofs repaired ... ... ... ... 101

do. external walls rebuilt, cement rendered or

repointed 131

do. internal walls replastered 68

do. ceilings replastered 28

do. new damp-proof courses inserted 2

do. floors re-laid or repaired 15

do. doors renewed or repaired ... 16

do. fireplaces and cooking ranges renewed or

repaired ... ... ... ... ... 55

do. new windows fixed ... ... ... ... 4

do. windows repaired or sashes re-corded ... ... 92

do. coppers renewed ... ... ... ... ... 2

do. new eaves gutters or rainwater fallpipes provided 98

do. caves gutters or rainwater fallpipes cleaned out

or repaired ... 58

do. handrails renewed or repaired ... ... ... —

do. houses or rooms cleansed or disinfested ... —

do. new cellar gratings provided 4

do. chimney stacks or pots renewed or repaired ... 31

do. copper brickwork and fireboxes repaired or

renewed 9

do. stairs repaired ... ... 2

do. smoky condition abated 18

do. new steps provided or steps repaired ... ... 12

do. cellar floors repaired ... —

do. cellar walls repaired ... ... ... ... —

do. other improvements ... ... 2

Urinals, stalls repaired 2

do. new urinals constructed ... ... ... ... —

Water closets, flushing cisterns, repaired or renewed ... 22

do. compartments re-built ... ... ... ... 2

do. new pedestal washdown pans provided ... ... 27

do. repaired ... ... ... ... ... ... 27

do. new seats provided ... ... ... ... 18

do. service pipes to flushing cisterns repaired ... 9

do. and urinals cleansed ... ... ... ... 1

do. lighted and ventilated ... ... ... ... 3

do. provided with proper flushing facilities ... ... —

Water Supply, service pipes repaired ... ... ... 6

do. new services provided ... ... 9

Taps repaired or new taps provided ... ... ... 5

Hot water cylinders and boilers repaired or renewed ... 1

New feed tanks installed ... —

Sinks renewed 28

Sink and bath waste pipes renewed, repaired, or

cleaned out 18

Lavatory basins renewed 1

Yards and passages cleansed 4

Yards and passages, paving repaired or renewed ... 17

Nuisances from keeping of animals abated ... ... 1

Nuisances caused by burning of refuse abated ... ... —

Caravans removed ... ... ... ... ... ... 14

New pail closets provided ... ... ... ... 1

Conversion of plant to smokeless fuels ... ... ... —

Food and Drugs :

Number of samples taken ... ... ... ... ... 247

Comprising- as follows :

Ungraded Milk Nil

Bottled Milk (Pasteurised) ... ... ... ... 24

do. (Tuberculin Tested, Pasteurised) ... 10

do. (Tuberculin Tested) 7

do. (Channel Island Tuberculin Tested) ... 19

do. (Sterilised) ... ... ... ... 3

Malt Vinegar 9

Margarine 6

Soft Drinks ... ... ... ... ... ... 12

Self Raising Flour 8

Butter ... 9

Glycerine ... 1

Various Jams 25

Non-Brewed Condiments ... ... ... ... 4

Diced Fruit, Peel, etc 29

Glaced Cherries ... ... ... ... ... ... 6

Coffee and Chicory 9

Meat and Fish Products ... ... ... ... 13

Ground Almonds ... ... 16

Stem Ginger 2

Mincemeat 9

Christmas Puddings ... ... ... ... ... 7

Cocoa and Drinking Chocolate 5

Crystallised Fruits ... 1

Cooking Fat 2

Lemon Curd ... ... ... ... 8

Marzipan 1

Preserved Ginger 2

Number of samples of milk reported to be adulterated or

below standard 7

Number of other samples reported not genuine ... ... 1

Legal proceedings instituted ... ... ... Nil

Number of cautions issued ... 1

Samples of Food reported to be adulterated or below standard
and action taken :

Serial No.

Article

Adulteration or offence

Action taken and
remarks

Chicken

Deficient in meat to

A formal sample was

(inf)

Paste

the exent of 7.2%.

unobtainable in the

area, the shopkeeper

having stopped sell-

ing the particular

firm’s products.

T.T. Milk

Deficient in milk fat

“ Appeal to cow ”

(Inf)

(Channel

to the extent of

samples were taken

Islands)

14.2%.

at the farm (see

sample No. 69).

T.T. Milk

Deficient in milk fat

(Channel

to the extent of

Islands)

7%.

T.T. Milk

Deficient in milk fats

(Channel

Islands)

The Chief Public

T.T. Milk

Slightly deficient in

Health Inspector

(Channel

milk fats.

> had correspondence

Islands)

with the Dairy

Farmer. A warn-

T.T. Milk

Deficient in milk fats

ing letter was given.

(Channel

to the extent of

Islands)

7.2%.

T.T. Milk

Deficient in milk fats

(Channel

to the extent of

Islands)

10.5%.

T.T. Milk

Slightly deficient in

(Channel

milk fats.

Islands)

The following was the average per cent, of milk-fat and solids-nol -
fat of the samples of milk which were taken, viz.:

Milk-fat 3.87

Solids not fat 8.94

Milk

Samples of milk taken for bacteriological examination : —

Designation of Milk.

No. of
Samples

Satisfactory

Unsatisfactory

Tuberculin Tested

Tuberculin Tested
(Pasteurised)

—

Pasteurised

— •

Sterilised

—

School Pasteurised

—

Samples of milk taken for biological examination :

Designation of Milk.

No. of
Samples

Satisfactory

Unsatisfactory

Tuberculin Tested

Ungraded

Slaughterhouses

Public Slaughterhouse, 1

Private Slaughterhouse ... ... ... ... ... 1

New slaughtermen’s licences issued 5

Slaughtermen’s licences renewed 44

Animals killed at Public Slaughterhouse 89,007

Inspections at Slaughterhouses ... ... ... ... 925

Animals killed at Private Slaughterhouses ... ... 5,661

PUBLIC SLAUGHTERHOUSE
Carcases inspected and condemned — 1957

Cattle,

excluding

Cows

Calves

Sheep

and

Lambs

Pigs

Number killed

11,525

1,794

1,092

43,172

31,424

Number inspected

11,525

1,794

1,092

43,172

31,424

All diseases except
Tuberculosis :

Whole carcases

condemned

Carcases of which
some part or organ
was condemned ...

3,234

189

795

5,230

Percentage of the
number inspected
affected with disease
other than tuber-
culosis

28.13

10.92

0.64

1.91

16.7'^

Tuberculosis only :

Whole carcases

condemned

Carcases of which
some part or organ
was condemned ...

532

242

339

Percentage of the
number inspected
affected with tuber-
culosis

4.69

13.88

0.183

1.10

Cysticercosis ;

Cases of which some
part or organ was
condemned

Carcases submitted
to treatment by
refrigeration

—

The total weight of meat and offal condemned was approximately
99 tons 6 cwts.

PRIVATE SLAUGHTERHOUSE

Carcases inspected and condemned — 1957.

Cattle,

excluding Cows

Sheep and Lambs

Number killed

1,784

3,877

Number inspected

1,784

3,877

All diseases except Tuberculosis:

Whole carcases condemned

—

Carcases of which some part or organ
was condemned

1,255

1,005

Percentage of the number inspected
affected with disease other than
Tuberculosis ...

70.34

25.92

Tuberculosis only :

Whole carcases condemned

—

Carcases of which some part or organ
was condemned

119

Percentage of the number inspected
affected with Tuberculosis ...

6.73

Cysticercosis :

Carcases submitted to treatment by

Refrigeration

- —

The total weight of meat and offal condemned was approximately
9 tons 9 cwts. 3 qtr. 1 st.

Food condemned at shops and warehouses :

Cooked Ham 2 tons

Tinned Meats (other than Cooked Ham) 2 tons
Bacon ...

Fish

Sausages

Chilled Meat

Cake

Cheese ...

Tomatoes

Onions ...

Prawns

Sprouts

cwts.

qrs.

12 lbs.

cwts.

qrs,

4 lbs.

cwts.

qrs.

lO^lbs.

cwts.

qrs.

26Jlbs.

cwts.

qrs.

21 libs.

cwt.

qr.

25 lbs.

cwts.

qrs.

4 lbs.

cwts.

qrs.

12ilbs.

cwts.

qr.

1 lbs.

cwts.

qr.

17 lbs.

cwts.

qr.

20 lbs.

cwts.

qr.

12 lbs.

Rice

3 cwts.

0 qrs.

lbs.

Yeast

8 cwts.

1 qr.

lbs.

Liquorice

0 cwts.

2 qrs.

lbs.

Eggs

1 cwt.

1 qr.

lbs.

also 7,662

tins and 498 jars and packets of various

foods

approximate weight of 5 tons 9 cwts. 1 qr. 231bs.

Wherever possible condemned food is disposed of by incineration on
the firm’s premises and in other cases it is buried at the bottom of one of
the Council’s refuse tips.

Water Supply :

During the period under review 38 samples of town’s water were
taken from different premises in the town for bacteriological examination
and all gave satisfactory results.

In addition one sample was taken from a private pump supply and
this proved to be unsatisfactory.

Two samples of water from swimming baths were taken for
bacteriological examination and both were satisfactory.

Inspections of Markets, Food Hawkers, etc. :

Markets are held in Doncaster on two days per week and these
are regularly inspected to ensure that a satisfactory standard is main-
tained, and 191 inspections were made in this connection.

Under the Doncaster Corporation Act, 1950, Section 100, authority
is given to register hawkers of foods and their premises. This is primarily
aimed at ensuring that the food vendors who attend the race meetings,
fairs, etc., are known to the Corporation so as to bring them under

supervision.

Number registered during 1957 ... ... ... ... 6

Offensive Trades :

Number on Register ... ... ... ... ... 6

Number of Inspections ... ... ... ... ... 58

Dairymen and Purveyors of Milk ;

Number on Register ... ... ... ... ... ... 10

Number of persons licensed to pasteurise milk ... ... Nil

Number of persons or firms licensed to deal in Tuberculin

Tested Milk ... ... ... ... ... ... 38

Number of persons or firms licensed to deal in Tuberculin

Tested (Pasteurised) Milk ... ... ... ... 21

Number of persons or firms licensed to deal in Pasteurised

^^^lill^ ••• ••• ••• •••

Number of persons or firms licensed to deal in Sterilised
Milk

Number of inspections of dairy premises, etc.

Work done to remedy contraventions —

Name and address of dealer properly marked on
vehicle

176

153

Nil

Shops Act :

Number of shops inspected and re-inspected ... ... 31

Written notices served ... ... ... ... ... 1

Work done : —

New sanitary conveniences provided ... ... ... 1

Cinemas and Places of Entertainment :

Number in Borough ... ... ... ... ... ... 9

Inspections 13

Interiors of cinemas re-decorated —

Walls and ceilings of sanitary conveniences re-decorated 1

Renewal of seats ... —

Fasteners provided to doors of water closet compartments —
New dustbins provided ... ... ... ... ... —

New chain pulls provided for water closets —

New water closet seats provided ... ... ... ... —

Pharmacy and Poisons Act :

Firms registered
Premises registered ...
Deputies registered ...
Inspections of premises

102

133

182

Factories Act :

Number of factories (with power) ... ... ... ... 425

Number of factories (non-power) 29

Other premises in which Section 7 is enforced by local

authority 12

Number of outworkers on books ... ... ... ... —

Complaints from Factory Inspector 6

Inspections 71

Contraventions or defects dealt with : Found. Remedied.

Want of cleanliness ... ... ... — ,,, 1

Sanitary conveniences :

(a) insufficient ... ... ... 2 ... —

(b) unsuitable or defective ... ... 12 ... 9

Other defects ... ... ... ... —

Canal Boats :

Number of inspections ... ... ... ... ... 3

Persons on board (adults) 10

Persons on board (children) 8

Contraventions found 2

Pet Animals Act, 1951 :

Number of licensed premises 15

Number of inspections under the Pet Animals Act, 1951 10

Lodging Houses :

Number on Register at beginning of year 2

On Register at end of year 2

Number of inspections ... ... ... ... ... 13

Lodging houses re-decorated ... ... ... ... —

Rooms cleansed or disinfested —

Floors or passages and landing cleansed ... ... ... —

Windows provided and fixed 1

Sanitary conveniences cleansed and re-decorated ... ... —

Bedding and mattresses cleansed and disinfested ... ... —

Lodging houses closed due to unsatisfactory condition ... —

Walls re-pointed ... 1

Additional sink and wash-hand basin provided ... ... 1

Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949, and
Infestation Order, 1943 :

Complaints of new infestations received and investigated

during the year 444

Premises treated by rodent operatives (pre-baiting and

poisoning) ... ... ... ... ... ... 961

Advice giveli to occupiers of premises by rodent operatives 51
Inspections re “ Block Control ” ... ... ... ... 631

Test baits laid ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,109

Inspections of Farms, Factories, Corporation Housing
Sites, Smallholdings, River and Canal Banks, Ware-
houses, Allotments, Sewage Disposal Works, Tips
and Piggeries, etc. ... ... ... ... ...3,107

Re-visits to previously infested premises ... ... ... 1,123

Accumulations of rubbish removed to prevent harbourage
f X* t s ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Dilapidated outbuildings demolished to prevent har-
bourage of rats —

During the year the banks of the river, canal and dykes in various
parts of the town, farms, allotments, gardens, smallholdings, hospital
grounds, refuse tips, quarries, sewage purihcation works. Racecourse
and Dockin Hill fairground and railway embankments were treated with
“ Cymag.”

Treatment of the sewers in the centre of the town and various out-
lying districts was carried out twice during the year with “ Warfarin.”

Doncaster Corporation Act, 1931, Section III.

Food and Drugs Act, 1955.

Ice Cream :

Number of premises registered for manufacture ... ... 1

Number of premises registered for sale ... 215

Inspections 61

Food and Drugs Act, 1955 :

Inspection of food preparation premises (including cafes,
restaurants and hotel kitchens, bakehouses, meat and
fish preparing premises, shops and warehouses, etc.) 519

Notices given (written and verbal) 90

Contraventions found and remedied : —

Walls and ceilings cleansed and re-decorated ... 53

Walls and ceilings re-plastered, etc. ... ... ... 15

Floors cleansed ... ... ... ... ... ... 16

Floors and floor coverings re-laid or repaired ... 25

New fish frying ranges provided ... ... ... 2

Doors renewed or repaired ... ... ... ... 8

New counters provided ... ... ... ... 4

New chopping blocks provided ... 5

New ashbins provided ... ... ... ... ... 10

New food preparation rooms built 2

Sink provided or renewed ... ... ... ... 40

Wash hand basins provided and fixed 50

Constant supply of hot and cold water provided over

sinks and/or basins 90

Supplies of clean cloths, nail brushes, soap, etc. ... 65

Improvements to lighting of rooms ... ... ... 15

Adequate storage accommodation provided for

clothing, etc. 10

Yard surfaces re-laid or repaired ... ... ... 5

Additional W.C.’s provided ... ... ... ... 5

Sanitary conveniences cleansed 12

Adequate lighting provided in sanitary conveniences 15
“Wash your Hands” Notices provided ... ... 52

Supplies of first aid materials provided ... ... 16

Food Premises :

At the end of the year there were 312 premises registered for the
sale and manufacture of ice cream under Section 16 of the Food and
Drugs Act, 1955, comprised as follows: —

Manufacture of ice cream 1

Manufacture of preserved foods 88

Sale of ice cream 223

The number and types of food shops at the end of the year were as
follows : —

Grocers and provisioners shops ...

295

Butchers shops

... ... ... 116

Fried fish shops

Wet fish shops

Miscellaneous

210

Total number of inspections

1,084

Sanitary Accommodation :

Dwellinghouses and other premises provided with privies

and ashpits ... ... ... ... ... ... —

Dwellinghouses and other premises provided with pail

closets ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1

Dwellinghouses and other premises provided with water
closets and sanitary dustbins or other movable
receptacles 3,208

Hotels, Public Houses and Inns :

Number inX!ounty Borough

Number of inspections and re-inspections ...
New sanitary conveniences provided
Sanitary conveniences not properly screened
W.C. basins and urinals cleansed ...

New W.C. basins provided

Cellar walls repaired or cement-rendered . . .

Investigation of Atmospheric Pollution :

Visits to all the sampling stations are made monthly and the
samples transferred to Sheffield for examination by the Borough Analyst.

During the year 73 visits were made for the purpose of changing the
equipment and an additional visit was made to each station when each
gauge stand and sulphur dioxide candle stand was painted and received
any other maintenance work necessary. The results are shown on the
tables on pages 65-66.

Miscellaneous :

Inspection of school sanitary conveniences ... ... 10

Inspections of urinals and public lavatories ... ... 136

Inspections of tents, vans and sheds 59

Inspection of refuse tips —

Houses measured up under Housing Act, 1957 2

Drains tested 54

Interviews with property owners and tradesmen 795

Superintending disinfestation of verminous premises ... 87

Verminous persons disinfested ... ... ... ... 5

Inspection of houses prior to re-housing 435

Inspection of privy middens ... ... ... ... —

Inspection of Hairdressers’ premises ... ... ... 44

SECTION E

HOUSING

The number of new houses erected in the Borough during the year
were: —

(1) By the Local Authority 292

(2) By private enterprise 147

The total number of inhabited houses at the end of the year accord-
ing to the rate books was 24,884.

1. Inspection of Dwellinghouses during the Year:

(1) (a) Total number of dwellinghouses inspected for

housing defects (under Public Health or Housing
Acts) ... ... ... ... ... ... 2,017

(b) Number of inspections made for the purpose ... 4,495

(2) (a) Number of dwellinghouses (included under sub-

head (1) of above) which were inspected and
recorded under the Housing Consolidated
Regulations, 1925 and 1932 Nil

(b) Number of inspections made for the purpose ... Nil

(3) Number of dwellinghouses found to be in a state
so dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit

for human habitation 173

(4) Number of dwellinghouses (exclusive of those

referred to under the preceding subhead) found
not to be in all respects reasonably fit for human
habitation ... ... ... ... ... ... 265

2. Remedy af Defects during the Year without Service
of Formal Notices :

Number of defective dwellinghouses rendered fit
in consequence of informal action by Local
Authority or their Officers 215

3. Action under Statutory Powers during the Year ;

(a) Proceedings under Sections 9, 10 and 16 of the
Housing Act, 1957 :

(1) Number of dwellinghouses in respect of which

notices were served requiring repairs ... ... 20

(2) Number of dwellinghouses which were rendered fit
after service of formal notices :

(a) By owners ... ... ... ... ... 26

(b) By Local Authority in default of owners ... 12

(b) Proceedings under Public Health Act :

(1) Number of dwellinghouses in respect of which

notices were served requiring defects to be
remedied 28

(2) Number of dwellinghouses in which defects were
remedied after service of formal notices: —

(a) By owners 36

(b) By Local Authority in default of owners ... 13

(1) Number of Dwellinghouses in respect of which

Demolition Orders were made 2

(2) Number of houses actually demolished as a result

of Demolition Orders 2

(3) Demolition Orders varied to Closing Orders, Local

Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1953 —

(4) Closing Orders, Local Government (Miscellaneous

Provisions) Act, 1953, determined after house
made suitable for occupation —

(5) Undertakings not to let for human habitation

accepted ... ... ... ... ... ... 10

(d) Proceedings under Section 18 of the Housing Act :

(1) Number of separate tenements or underground

rooms in respect of which Closing Orders were
made ... ... ... ... ... Nil

(2) Number of separate tenements or underground

rooms in respect of which Closing Orders were
determined, the tenement or room having been
rendered fit Nil

(e) Proceedings under Part HI of the Housing Act, 1957 :

(1) Number of Clearance Areas declared 7

(2) Number of houses included in Clearance Areas ... 135

(3) Number of Clearance Orders made 25

(4) Number of Compulsory Purchase Orders made ... 2

(5) Number of houses demolished as a result of

clearance action 43

Overcrowding :

(a) (1) The number of dwellings overcrowded at the end
of the year

(2) Number of families dwelling therein

(3) Number of persons dwelling therein

361

Certificates of Disrepair.

Rent Act, 1957 :

During 1957, 63 applications for Certificates of Disrepair were
received and considered by the Council. Of these, 61 were granted and
2 refused. 15 applications for the revocation of Certificates of Disrepair
were received, and in 13 instances these were granted, whilst in 2 cases
the applications were refused.

SECTION F

INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION

OF FOODS

Milk— Bacteriological Examination :

During the year the following samples have been examined:

Tuberculin Tested (Pasteurised) Milk:

Fifty samples were examined and all satisfied the prescribed tests
(Methylene blue and Phosphatase).

Pasteurised Milk :

Fifty-two samples were examined and all satisfied the prescribed
tests (Methylene blue and phosphatase).

In addition twenty-three samples of Pasteurised milk deliveries to
schools in the County Borough were examined and all of these satisfied
the preseribed tests.

Sterilised Milk :

Forty-nine samples were examined and all satisfied the prescribed
test (Turbidity).

Tuberculin Tested Milk :

Sixty-seven samples were examined and six failed to satisfy the
prescribed tests (Methylene blue). The results were communicated to
the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Milk Relations Officer,
Flarrogate, and also to the various Authorities in whose area the
producers’ premises were situated.

Milk — Biological Examination :

Forty-seven samples of milk (seventeen tuberculin tested and thirty
undesignated) were examined for tubercle bacilli, and one raw
undesignated milk was found to be positive. The particulars of these
cases were immediately notified to the Chief Veterinary Officer, Ministry
of Agriculture and Fisheries, Wakefield, and also to the Authorities in
whose areas the producers’ premises were situated.

Meat and Other Foods :

Details of action taken with regard to meat and other foods and
adulteration of food are given in the Public Health Inspector’s Report.

Chemical examinations are carried out by the Public Analyst, Mr.
H. Childs, at Sheffield.

Bacteriological examinations are performed at the Public Health
Laboratories at Wakefield and Sheffield.

APPENDIX (A)

3rd September, 1957.

REPORT ON TOBACCO SMOKING AND
CANCER OF THE LUNG.

1. Introduction

(a) In June last the Minister of Health drew the attention of Parlia-
ment to a statement which had been issued by the Medical Research
Council in the relationship between tobacco smoking and the risk of
developing lung cancer.

(b) The Minister stated that the Government considered that the
opinion of the Medical Research Council should be brought effectively
to public notice so that everyone would know the risks involved, and
that Local Health Authorities were being asked to undertake publicity
in their areas.

THE MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL’S STATEMENT

2. The Increase in Lung Cancer

For some years the medical profession has been concerned at the
rapidly growing incidence of lung cancer, and in 1950 the Medical
Research Council drew attention to the great increase in the death rate
from lung cancer during the previous 25 years. The death rate has
continued to increase since 1950 and in 1955 it was more than double
that for 1945 ! (1945 — 188 per million of population; 1955 — 388 per
million population).

The incidence is about six times higher in males than in females,
but lung cancer has shown a similar increase among females.

There is no sign that the incidence of lung cancer has yet reached
its peak.

3. Causes of the Increase.

The rapidity of the increase in lung cancer suggests some widespread
factor in the environment to which man has become exposed in the
last 50 years (cancer takes many years to develop after exposure to
known cancer ^oducing agents). The fact that the disease occurs
among all classes and both sexes rules out an occupational danger.

The location of the disease in the respiratory system suggests two
possible factors; —

(i) Smoking of tobacco.

(ii) Atmospheric pollution

4. Smoking of Tobacco

Special enquiries into the smoking habits of cases of lung cancer
in many countries show there is: —

(a) a higher mortality in smokers than in non-smokers,

(b) a higher mortality in heavy smokers than in light smokers,

(d) a higher mortality in those who continued to smoke than in those
who gave it up.

Males who smoke heavily have a death rate from lung cancer forty
times that of non-smokers. Death from lung cancer is likely to occur
in one out of every eight heavy smokers but only in one out of every 300
NON-smokers.

5. Cancer Causing Factors in Tobacco Smoke

Five substances capable of causing cancer have been isolated from
tobacco smoke. The amounts present are very small but their mere
presence is suggestive.

6. Atmospheric Pollution

There is a higher mortality from lung cancer in urban areas than in
rural. Cancer producing materials are found in smoke from coal and
in motor vehicle exhaust gases.

No evidence exists to show that transport workers, garage hands
and policemen, who are specially exposed to vehicle exhaust fumes,
suffer from lung cancer more frequently than other sections of the
community.

There is some evidence that non-smokers in urban areas die from
cancer of the lung more frequently than do non-smokers in rural areas,
but the effect of this on the lung cancer death rate is much smaller than
that attributable to tobacco smoking.

7. Conclusions of the Medical Research Council

(a) A very great increase has occurred during the past 25 years in
the death rate from lung cancer in Great Britain and other countries.

(b) A relatively small number of the total cases can be attributed to
specific industrial hazards.

(d) Evidence from many investigations in different countries indicates
that a major part of the increase is associated with tobacco smoking.

particularly in the form of cigarettes. In the opinion of the Council,
the most reasonable interpretation of this evidence is that the relationship
is one of direct cause and effect.

(e) The identification of several carcinogenic substances in tobacco
smoke provides a rational basis for such a casual relationship.

OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH ASPECTS OF SMOKING

In addition to the preceding official information on the connection
between smoking and lung cancer I would respectfully point out that
there are a number of other public health aspects involved in smoking
which I feel warrant equal attention and this would appear to be an
appropriate time to bring this to the notice of members of the Council.

From the Public Health point of view smoking is an undesirable
habit on the following grounds: —

1. It causes increased salivation and leads to spitting, which can
spread disease, e.g., colds, tuberculosis and food poisoning.

2. Tobacco smoke is an irritant and causes coughing (e.g., the regular
smoker’s morning cigarette to “ clear his lungs ” and the chronic
“ smoker’s cough ” of heavy smokers).

Coughing by smokers in confined spaces, e.g., offices, buses,
railway trains, cinemas, etc., must be responsible for the spread of
much of the epidemic disease spread by droplets, e.g.,, the common
cold, influenza, pneumonia, etc. The ill-health spread by the
coughing of smokers must be considerable and causes great
economic loss, discomfort and inconvenience to other people.

3. Food handlers who smoke can contaminate their fingers with mouth
bacteria from the act of smoking and convey the germs to food.
Even if they desist from smoking whilst handling food they are
more liable to coughing and contamination of food by droplets
during the act of coughing in the vicinity of the food.

4. Non-smokers suffer great discomfort from irritation and even
inflammation of the eyes when in a smoke contaminated
atmosphere.

5. Tobacco contains nicotine, a powerful poison which can affect the
heart muscle and also the eyes.

6. Excessive smoking may predispose to gastric and duodenal ulcer.

From the above brief resume it will be seen that smoking is not
only a causative agent in lung cancer but it is also an important factor
leading to chronic ill-health and certain specific diseases in the individual.
In addition, and even more important, it is a dangerous practice from
the public health point of view as it undoubtedly plays an important part
in the spread of respiratory disease and food poisoning.

Recommendations

It is essential to bring to the notice of the public by all available
means the dangers of smoking from the personal health and the public
health points of view. All publicity undertaken will require to be
maintained for a long period.

It is therefore recommended that: —

1 . The Town Council sets an example to the townsfolk on the follow-
ing lines: — ^

(a) By prohibiting smoking in all Corporation owned premises
frequented by the public, including the Council Chamber and
and Committee Rooms and by the Corporation Staff when
dealing with members of the public.

(b) By poster publicity in public buildings, on buses and bill-posting
sites, etc.

2. The attention of all licensed dealers in tobacco and cigarettes be
drawn to the dangers of smoking by young persons and to their
responsibilities in this respect under existing legislation.

3. Lectures be given by the Medical Staff of the Health Department
to senior school children and students.

4. Leaflets and posters be provided for distribution to industrial and
commercial undertakings, schools and other suitable organisations.

5. Attention be given to obtaining improved ventilation, where
necessary, in cinemas, theatres, public houses, club-rooms and other
enclosed places where the public congregate and smoke.

6. Attention be given to obtaining proper and adequate draught-free
ventilation on the upper deck of double-deck buses and on all
single-deck buses where smoking is allowed.

APPENDIX “ B ”

REPORT ON THE CLEAN AIR ACT, 1956

9th April, 1957.

Introduction

The above Act is described in the official preamble as “An Act to
make provision for abating the pollution of the Air.”

As atmospheric pollution is one of the major factors to-day in the
causation of ill-health it is the duty of the Council through the Health
Committee vigorously to support the provisions of the Act and to set
an example to the rest of the community in the elimination or reduction
of atmospheric pollution.

The following is a summary in general terms of the more important
sections of the Act.

Section

1. After a date to be fixed by Parliament it will be an offence for
dark smoke to be emitted from a chimney of any building.
Certain industrial processes will have to be exempted from the
total ban on smoke production and the Minister of Fuel and
Power is empowered to issue regulations making special provision
for such cases.

2. Up to the 5th July, 1962, it will be a defence in any proceedings
taken under Section 1 (above) to prove that the contravention
arose from the nature of the equipment and it was not practicable
to re-equip the building nor alter existing equipment to avoid
the production of dark smoke.

If, upon application before the 5th July, 1962, the Council is
satisfied that it is not practicable in any given case to alter or
equip a building so as to avoid atmospheric pollution, then the
authority may issue a temporary exemption certificate in respect
of one or more chimneys for periods not exceeding one year.
No such certificate can remain in force after 5th July, 1962.

3. No non-domestic furnace shall be installed in any building or
boiler or other industrial plant unless it is as far as practicable
capable of being operated continuously without emitting smoke
when burning fuel for which it was designed.

Any person who instals a furnace in contravention of this Section
after the 31st December, 1956, shall be guilty of an offence.
Where plans and specifications of new furnaces have been sub-
mitted to, and approved by, the local authority a furnace shall
be deemed to comply with the above sub-section.

Notice must be given to the authority of a proposal to instal a

furnace in any building or boiler or plant. Failure to inform the
authority is an offence. Extensions to existing plant are also
included in the above requirements.

4. The Minister is empowered to make regulations requiring smoke
indicating and for recording instruments to be fitted to furnaces,
etc., and to require results recorded to be made available to the
local authority.

5. Industrial plant burning solid fuel or waste material must use
every practicable means to prevent the emission of grit and dust
from the chimney.

6. New plant burning pulverised fuel or other solid fuel at a rate
of 1 ton per hour or more must be provided with equipment
to arrest grit and dust and such equipment must be approved by
the local authority.

8. A local authority may request in writing information about
furnaces or ovens and the fuel burned or processed in the plant.
It is an offence to fail to supply the information or to supply
false information.

9. Outdoor furnaces or boilers of industrial plant are subject to
the same control regarding the emission of grit and dust as are
applied under sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 to other types of furnace.

10. A local authority has power to reject plans for the erection or
extension of a building other than residences, shops or offices
if the plans include a proposal to construct a chimney and it is
considered that the height of the proposed chimney will be
insufficient to prevent a nuisance or to be prejudicial to health
from the emission of smoke, grit, dust or gases.

11. A local authority may by Order confirmed by the Minister
declare the whole of its district or any part thereof to be a Smoke
Control Area. It is an offence for smoke to be emitted from a
chimney of any building within the Smoke Control Area and the
occupant of the building is the person to be held responsible for
compliance with this requirement.

12. Where a Smoke Control Area Order becomes operative a local
authority shall pay compensation towards the cost of alterations
and adaptations to heating and cooking equipment in dwelling
houses, the building of which was commenced before 5th July,
1956.

13. An exchequer contribution towards compensation payments
under section 12 above is payable under certain circumstances.

14. Adaptations for the purposes of the above sections include —

(a) adapting or converting a fireplace

(b) replacing a fireplace by another or by some other means of
heating or cooking

(d) operations incidental to any of the above.

15. A local authority may make a grant towards cost of adaptation
of fireplaces of churches, chapels and buildings used by charities,
education or social welfare, situated in a Smoke Control Area,
but no exchequer contribution will be available in these cases.

16. Smoke from sources other than a chimney of a private dwelling
or a boiler or industrial plant if a nuisance to inhabitants of a
neighbourhood be considered as a statutory nuisance under
section 109 of the Public Health Act, 1936.

17. Certain chemical and other Industrie? are exempted from the
provisions of the Clean Air Act but will be dealt with under the
Alkali Act which is widened in scope to cover the control as far
as possible of the emission of smoke, grit and dust from these
premises. The industries involved are those covered by the
Alkali, etc.. Works Regulations Act, 1906.

A local authority may apply to the Minister for an Order
enabling the whole or part of any premises controlled under the
Alkali Act to be removed from the special provisions of Section
17 (i).

18. Owners of colliery spoilbanks must in future take all possible
steps to prevent combustion of the waste and to minimise the
emission of smoke and fumes.

19. Railway locomotives will be required to comply with Section 1 of
the Act, i.e., the emission of dark smoke from a locomotive will

be an offence.

Owners of locomotives must use all practicable means for
minimising the emission of smoke from an engine. Failure to
do so will be an offence.

20. Vessels are required to comply with section 1 of the Act but
section 2.also applies until 5th July, 1962.

21. Provision is made to exempt persons undertaking researeh or
investigating atmospheric pollution problems from the provisions
of the Act, for agreed periods.

22. Crown premises and vessels of the Navy or owned by the Govern-
ment can only be dealt with by a report from the local authority
to the Minister responsible for the property.

23. A Clean Air Council is to be established by the Minister charged
with reviewing progress in abating atmospheric pollution and
for advising the Minister.

24. Amendment of the Building Byelaws is authorised to enable
heating and cooking equipment in all new buildings to be of a
type which prevent the emission of smoke.

25. Local authorities may undertake or contribute to the cost of
research on air pollution, arrange for publicity or the delivery of
lectures or discussions on this subject. They may also arrange
for exhibitions or film shows, etc., and prepare or contribute to
the cost of preparing films, models and exhibitions, etc.

27. Penalties ranging from £10 to £100 with or without imprisonment
are laid down.

Recommendations for the Enforcement of the Clean Air Act,

1956

1. As the purpose of the Clean Air Act, 1956, is mainly directed to
improving the health of the community the Act should be
administered by the Health Committee mainly through the Health
Department. This would be in keeping with the accepted
practice throughout the country and previous practice in
Doncaster.

2. It is recommended that the Health Department administer
Section 3 of the Act. For many plants the existing staff can
advise appropriately but in the case of certain special or technical
projects it is recommended that a special technical sub-committee
be established to consider such applications.

This technical sub-committee should consist of : —

the Medical Officer of Health

Borough Surveyor

Chief Public Health Inspector

a Consultant Combustion Engineer

a Representative of industrial undertakings in the
town

with power to co-opt a representative of the N.I.F.E.
where necessary.

3. Section 10 of the Act dealing with the height of chimneys should
be administered by the Borough Surveyor, who will collaborate
with the Medical Officer of Health whenever appropriate.

Appendix 1

Authorised Fuels

Section 34 of the Act authorises the Minister to declare by regulation
authorised fuels for the purposes of this Act. Regulations wera made in
December, 1956, declaring the following to be authorised fuels for the
purposes of the Clean Air Act, 1 956 : —

anthracite;

briquetted fuels carbonised in the process of manufacture;

coke;

electricity;

gas;

low temperature carbonisation fuels;
low volatile steam coals.

Appendix II

The Smoke Control Areas (Exempted Fireplaces) Order, 1957, which
came into operation on the 8th April, 1957, exempts from the provisions
of section 11 of the Clean Air Act, 1956 (relating to Smoke Control
Areas) fireplaces specially designed or adapted for the combustion of
liquid fuel provided they are installed, maintained and operated so as to
minimise the emission of smoke.

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